Anambra Government Task Force Demolishes Illegal Structures

The Joint Enforcement Task Force force on Development Control in Anambra State has embarked on the demolition of illegal structures in various locations within Idemili North & South Local Government Areas.

The enforcement exercise comprised officials of Anambra State Physical Planning Board, (ANSPPB) security operatives, among others.

The task force warned that the state government will not relent in going after defaulting developers in the state.

The demolished structures include a fence and gate at Immanuel Church Street around Joedon area of Nkpor built by a developer blocking an access road built by government.

Also demolished is a factory on government land where some people sold and were putting poles on the roads.

The task force equally demolished a storey block of lock-up stores under construction at Oba, where the developer was alleged to have assaulted officials of the ANSPPB, who came to the site earlier this year for enforcement.

The Chairman of ANSPPB, Chike Maduekwe who supervised the enforcement exercise said it was part of routine operations of the board to ensure development control and compliance to minimum standards, which he explained is in line with its core mandate of cleaning up the mess in the building industry in the state.

Maduekwe explained that it was the board’s third time of embarking on enforcement control at Joedone area of Nkpor, where an individual purchased an assess road and built on it, pointing out that the last time the officials of the board paid a visit to the location, the building was lintel level, but was demolished.

He wondered why the developers will remain recalcitrant and continued to build the illegal structure, noting that they had continued to evade arrest each time they visited.

The ANSPPB boss further revealed that the developers terrorized the lawful residents into silence, saying that the building which was out on the road, blocked all the buildings on both sides, thereby preventing residents from driving into their buildings for about six months.

He said that it was cleared only for them to mount a gate on the street blocking the entire street and providing cover for criminals who hide under the cover of the gates to attack innocent citizens, but added that the gates were levelled and cleared.

At the Oba building site, Barrister Maduekwe recounted the ordeals of the state government enforcement team who were beaten up by the developer and their vehicles destroyed.

He explained that when their staff embarked on their routine enforcement exercise in the location in December 2022, they were attacked with matchets and they went home with smashed vehicle windscreen, stressing that it necessitated the complete demolition of the structure.

Barrister Maduekwe warned developers that the state government will no longer tolerate any form of assault on its officials on legitimate duty, noting that any such action will be met with necessary response.

He emphasized that no one can intimidate the government, assuring that the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration remains committed to its promise of building a liveable and prosperous Anambra State where rule of law prevails.

Some residents of the residents at Nkpor alleged that an individual whose name was given as Mighty, has been the one who keeps reselling the particular place to unsuspecting buyers.

Some other residents who spoke with journalists on the condition of anonymity expressed their happiness to the government for coming to their aid.

According to them, they have been finding it difficult to go and come out of their various compounds due to the blockage, but with the demolition and reopening up of the road, they can now easily access their buildings.