Govt. demolishes 115 illegal structure

Mr Sam Omale, Head of Department, Town Planning, Urban Development Board in Benue, said 115 illegal
buildings had been demolished, while another 193 buildings had been marked for demolition.

Omale made the disclosure in an interview on Thursday in Makurdi. According to him the structures included both commercial and private buildings in the city.

He explained that all the affected structures were either built on access line, utility lines, water channels or flood prone areas. Others were buildings in parks and recreational centres or buildings on government’s or another person's land.

Omale called on residents to do the right thing to ensure avoid demolitions of their structures. "We are not happy bringing down buildings, we want developments like constructions and upgrading, but for this to take place, we have to provide space for such development," he said.

The town planner, however, expressed dissatisfaction with residents, saying that the board was not solely responsible for the approval of structures in areas not fit.

"We are professionals; we have had issues with some politicians, who are insisting that some structures be at particular places,” he said.

Omale told NAN that in carrying out any environmental impact assessment, there were laid down rules, regulations and bodies involved, as the board alone was not solely in charge.

NAN reports that the board has national and state enabling laws for handling of illegal structures and town planning.