27th July, 2016
The Ekiti State Government on Wednesday directed potential landlords to obtain approved plans before building houses or risk demolition.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, gave the directive during the inauguration of “Operation show Your Building Plan” at Asungbeola, Ado-Ekiti.
Olusola said building plan was necessary to allow the government to have access to communities and checkmate construction that could pose dangers to the lives of the people.
He said the government would not fold its arms and watch communities degenerate into slums, where buildings were constructed without recourse to laid down regulations.
The deputy governor warned that all houses built on waterways, setbacks and under electricity cables must be removed or be demolished.
Olusola directed that all the landlords in the area must seek approval of their building plans within 30 days or face the wrath of the government.
He also directed the ministry to facilitate a meeting between the community leaders, the commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and his office on ways to ensure compliance.
The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Taiye Otitoju, condemned the attitude of people building houses without approved plans.
He added that such attitude could endanger the lives of people.
He noted that landlords with approved building plans in the community visited were not up to one percent, adding that such attitude would not help the government to plan for the development of the area.
Mr. Samuel Ojo, a community leader, said the visit of the deputy governor would be discussed at the community meeting.
Ojo assured that residents would be mobilised to commence the process of getting approval for their buildings.
He added that those whose buildings contravened the laid down building regulations would be made to remove them.
He, however, appealed to the state government to provide the community with electricity and roads, among other social amenities, to make life more beneficial for the citizenry.