Ondo State government has embarked on the demolition of illegal buildings and structures constructed along water ways and government setbacks in Akure, the state capital.
The demolition exercise which was jointly carried out by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and the Office of Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical and Ecological control along Oyemekun road, beside Access Bank is to prevent disasters associated with flooding and building collapse in the state.
Speaking with Journalists during the exercise, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Sunday Olajide, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Building Control Unit of the Ministry, TPL Abimbola Tofowomo warned builders to desist from puting up structures on unauthorized locations and government setbacks to avoid loosing their properties during demolition operations of the Ministry.
The Commissioner stated that the present administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is committed to modern physical planning and urban renewal of major towns in the state and would leave no stone unturned to fulfill the agenda for the benefit of the people of the state.
He noted that, the Monitoring and Enforcement Department of the Building Control Unit has intensified its activities to ensure compliance with building approvals given by the Ministry and Town Planning laws of the state, adding that any contravention will be sanctioned with penalties or total demolition of the structure, notwithstanding the level of resistance against government demolition order.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical and Ecological control, Engineer Elisha Ebijimi said government would continue to remove illegal structures and fences blocking the natural water ways after notices have been served on the affected property owners to achieve the ongoing channelization and erosion control initiative of Aiyedatiwa led administration.
Ebijimi stated that after removing the blockages at the location, government will expand the water ways and construct concrete walls to control the flow of the water to its natural course to curb erosion and flooding, which he said would be completed within two weeks.
He added that the team will embark on similar actions in other identified locations in the state capital before moving to Ondo town.
