BENIN CITY – Edo State has given a 7-day notice to illegal occupiers of government land in Benin City, the state capital and Auchi the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area.
Also, the Government has given notice to house owners who converted their residential buildings to other uses to revert to the original design have or have such buildings demolished.
Speaking to reporters on the resolutions reached at the end of the State Executive Council meeting, Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development Mr. Frank Evbuomwan said “the state Executive Council has decided on the following issues. The first of the issue is the fact that people have been building on government land illegally, specifically Evboriaria, Auchi and some other areas. The State Executive Council has decided that those buildings will be demolished unless those who have built on those lands are able to come forward to show reasons or documents to prevent the state government from doing so.
“As I speak, we are giving all those developers and owners of buildings 7-days notice within which to contact the Honourable Commissioner for Lands and Survey and the Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development after which we will have no choice than to reclaim government land.
“The second issue has to do with those who have illegally converted their buildings to commercial use particularly residential areas in GRA, Etete Layout, Ugbowo and so on. People have converted residential buildings to churches, Drinking Bars, Night Clubs, Car Wash, restaurants and so on. Unless those people have approved plans, they have 7- days to revert those buildings to residential use after which government will be left with no option than to demolish those buildings. Those who have approved plans should please come forward with them within 7 days and the government would take steps to correct this anomaly.
“Finally, government is also worried about the high level of noise pollution in our city today. Specially, we are addressing those who sell cassettes, churches, mosques and other people who choose to put their public address system outside and disturb the public peace. This action is herby prohibited by the state government.
“Nobody is allowed to play any loud speaker or sound-enhancing device outside their premises and outside the confines of their businesses or houses. Again the state government, especially the Ministry of Environment will be going round to confiscate all such equipment that are used to disturb the public peace. We want to use this medium to advise, in order not to run foul of the law, that you take this warning seriously and to desist from all those actions listed”, he said.
On his part, the Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities, Prince Clem Agba said “other areas that have been encroached upon by developers, specifically Ogba Zoo, that is a bio-remediation or bio-diversity centre that needs to be protected; houses built in those areas are also going to be demolished. A lot of the buildings in that area do not have the approved development plans and there is a need to protect our zoo and our reserves”, he said.
The Press conference was attended by the Commissioners for Information, Mr Louis Odion; Environment and Public Utilities, Prince Clem Agba; Lands and Housing, Frank Evbuomwan and Lands and Survey, Mr. Joseph Ugheoke.
