The Edo State Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development has sealed the construction site of new stalls at the Nigeria Police Officers’ Mess on Ikpokpan Road, Benin City, for failing to provide approval for the project.
Director of Physical Planning and Development Control, Mr. Enabulele Henry, who led the enforcement team to the site, said that the building contravened extant building laws.
According to him, “The siting of buildings in any part of the State is controlled by us. We have been following up on the development for some time. When they started this work, we went to the site and stopped them on December 6. They are distorting the plan of the GRA. Also, this is government land, which was allocated to the Police, where their officers can relax. They are converting into a commercial property. The increased activity is going to generate traffic, which is going to impact the Third Junction in that axis.”
He noted that the government is poised to control the traffic flow in the area and with such a project which would impact negatively in the area, then the purpose of the traffic management initiative will be defeated.
“They came to our office and we asked them to provide their approval before they could do anything. They said they have heard and would revert. But during the public holiday, they went back and started work, even at night. They started another one as well. We have now come out to say they can’t continue,” he said.
He added that the government has put in place the Benin City Masterplan and the Edo State Regional Development to manage development in the State so that people don’t build indiscriminately, urging the Police to abide by the laws in the land.
