Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi (Middle); with aides, pointing in the direction of structures and flooded areas, during an on-the-spot inspection after a heavy downpour, in Ado-Ekiti.
Buildings erected on waterways and those without approvals from the Ekiti State Town Planning office will be demolished within the next two weeks to give way for water channels and prevent a possible occurrence of flooding in Ado Ekiti, the State capital.
The State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi stated this in Ado Ekiti on Monday during an inspection of flooded areas and channelization works in the state capital.
Dr. Fayemi who was apparently worried at the spate at which some people violate town planning laws while building their houses, stated that the demolition is aimed at protecting the lives and property of citizens as some illegal buildings have posed threats to the safety of lives and property of those who had normally built their structures in the proper place by diverting the waterways.
He stated that though government had in the past failed to enforce the laws guarding building constructions, a situation which he said had given many the impetus to build without respect for the law and the safety of their lives and property, government will henceforth begin a strict enforcement of the law to avoid more dangers that may be caused by flooding.
Governor Fayemi who spoke with journalists in the course of the inspection said: “A lot of the houses that have been caught in harm’s way as a result of this flooding are houses built on flood plain and do not have development control approval. So the problem is at that level but there is also the problem of enforcement on the side of government. It is the duty of government to enforce the law. Even on an approved plan, there must be a setback. You have a certain metres that you must put between your house and the road. That has not been done in many of the places I visited today: Olorunda, Nova Road, Peace Avenue in Afao road and Oke Ila.”
The Governor assured that government will make amends where it has shirked its responsibilities as larger drains and more channelization projects will be put in place.
“We will make sure that adequate room is provided for the drains so that water can flow into wider channels, dredge the channels and ensure that water flows properly. Anyone who has built on a waterway or in a place that will not allow water to flow seamlessly should be ready to hear from me. I have given instruction to the Ministry of Urban Planning and Lands to ensure that those houses are demolished in the next two weeks”, he asserted.
The Governor was accompanied on the inspection by the Chief of Staff, Mr Yemi Adaramodu; Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Elder Remi Olorunleke, Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Wole Apalara-Adewunmi; and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Roads, Mr Sunday Adunmo as well as officials of the State Emergency Management Agency.
Last modified: April 22, 2013
