Anambra State Government has announced plans to demolish old, dilapidated buildings considered unsafe for habitation across the state.
The government has, therefore, issued two weeks notice for occupants to vacate such buildings.
The State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barr. Chijioke Ojukwu, announced this in state government’s official website, advising occupants of such identified structures to pack their property and leave before the demolition exercise commences.
The Commissioner pointed out that the measure is aimed at addressing issues of structurally unsafe buildings and improve public safety.
This is coming barely one week after a woman identified as Mrs. Happiness Ugoagu and her 14-year-old daughter, Chikaima Ugoagu, died when a three-storey building under construction collapsed onto their nearby home at No. 11 Emeka Ugwuanyi Street in Anata Anaba, Okpoko, Ogbaru LGA of the State.
The Commissioner informed that the Ministry had commenced identification of dilapidated buildings across the 21 local government areas of the state, and notifying their owners and occupants in accordance with the law.
He further warned that structures that remain occupied after the expiration of the statutory notice could be evacuated before demolition.
Commissioner Ojukwu specifically identified Iweka Road and Bida Street in Onitsha, as well as Hundred Foot Road in Nnewi as among the areas with high number of such buildings.
He, however, emphasized that the exercise would be extended to other parts of the state where buildings have been found to pose safety concerns.
He explained that the law empowered the Ministry to identify dilapidated structures and formally notify their owners of their condition and necessary actions taken.
He reiterated that where occupants of such buildings fail to leave after the required notice, the authorities may use reasonable force to evacuate them and proceed with demolition, while the property owners would have to pay for the costs incured.
According to the Commissioner, the proposed demolition which forms part of the Soludo Administration’s broader physical planning and urban renewal efforts, was intended in the interest of public safety, crackdown on illegal structures, as well as prevent avoidable dangers associated with unsafe buildings and protect residents and members of the public from potential harm.
Ojukwu urged affected property owners and occupants to take the notices seriously and comply within the stipulated period, as the government prepares to proceed with the exercise.
