By Chukwuka Ugokwe
As part of efforts to enforce compliance with physical planning law across the state, Anambra State Government has marked some sections of shopping plazas located at Oye Agu Market Abagana and Nkwo Nnewi for demolition.
The State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Bar Chijioke Ojukwu, stated this on Friday, June 19 during routine exercise of marking illegal structures and serving notices of removal by officials of the Ministry.
He said that demolishing the Shopping Plazas was necessary because the structures were constructed on the road corridor without conforming with minimum set back of 9 metres approved for every commercial building.
Bar Ojukwu explained that the physical planning law prescribed that 9 metres set back must be observed to create space for car park and to prevent traffic gridlock occasioned by parking of vehicles on roads.
“We have marked some lock up shops at Oye Agu Market, Abagana, which we considered not properly planned because there is no parking space provided for customers that will visit the Mall.
“It is for the same reason we have marked the on going Shopping Mall at Nkwo Nnewi which also failed to provide car park. In the absence of car park, there will always be gridlock on the road.
“The good thing about our laws is that it subjects all persons, private persons and government itself to compliance with the provisions of the law”
While highlighting that the exercise was also aimed at creating public awareness, he underscored the importance of adhering to physical planning regulations including obtaining building permit, minimum set back rules, amongst others
The Commissioner disclosed that physical planning laws would be amended to strengthen regulatory compliance, monitoring and enforcement activities through strategic partnership with licensed building professionals.
During the exercise, Bar Ojukwu and his team covered Plywood Market at Ogbunike, Building Materials Market, Ogidi, parts of Nnewi and other locations, where he lamented seemingly non-compliance with the provisions of the law.
“We have marked and applied the 2 metres set back rule from the walkways as directed by the Governor. The law provides for a set back of 6 metres from the drainage line in every highway in the state”
Photo attachment: IMG_0091.jpg
Photo attachment: IMG_0162.JPG
Photo attachment: IMG_0106.JPG
