The Oyo State Government has declared measures to demolish buildings that were illegally built on flood plains, waterways, and buildings underneath high-tension power lines in an effort to avert future calamities.
Following a meeting with important sector players, the State Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Mr. Emmanuel Olayiwola, disclosed this to reporters in Ibadan on Thursday.
The government reportedly stated that it will issue violation warnings to concerned traders and residents of Ibadan and its surroundings before the removal process began, InsightnaijaTV reports.
Olayiwola lamented the state’s unauthorized construction under electricity lines and stated that the matter has come to the attention of the government.
According to the commissioner, the buildings underneath high-tension wires and pipelines violate the state’s physical planning laws.
Olayiwola claimed that the state’s sprawl of illegal structures was the result of illegal development operations that did not follow planning standards.
He warned that if the illegal construction was not stopped soon, people of the state would be in grave danger.
“The ministry, following reports from concerned citizens over erection of structures under power lines and its attendant health hazard to the good people, will swing into action very soon,” he said.
According to the commissioner, the state government would soon start conducting property audits, enforcing planning regulations, and implementing new technologies.
In order to control the creation of demand notices, Olayiwola said that the state government had implemented a lands management system.
He said that town planning offices from all 11 local governments in the Ibadan zone had been given the billing system as a test run.
Olayiwola said that the government had established an enforcement operation to stop the state’s excessive expansion of unlawful activities and that the ministry was close to eliminating manual invoices and bills.
“This exercise is just to ensure a sustainable, organized, and livable environment for the state’s citizens,” he said.
The commissioner issued a warning to the public to refrain from attacking and mistreating public servants while they are performing their duties.
Before beginning any development, he recommended developers in the state seek permission from the town planning authorities in their respective local governments.
In order to carry out the state’s government’s development objectives, Olayiwola asked locals to continue to adhere by the rules of the Oyo State Physical Planning Policy.
“Our people should always report illegal development/structures in any place within the state to the appropriate agency of government because government officials can’t cover every area.
“They should ensure all government fees are paid accordingly. In order to achieve this, the government has acceded to the yearnings of the public by approving a revised tax regime for planning approvals,” he said.
According to the commissioner, the state government reduced the required tax clearing charge for the convenience of citizens.
The first type, which would pay N50,600 as tax and development fees rather than the original payment of N120, 000, he claimed, applied to the 11 Local Government Areas in Ibadan.
The commissioner listed the following local governments as belonging to the second category: Oyo East, Oyo West, Atiba, Ogbomoso South, Ogbomoso North, Saki West, Iseyin, Surulere, Afijio, Ibarapa Central, and Ibarapa East.
According to Olayiwola, those that fall under the second group must pay a tax and development fee of N30,600.
In the third group, he included the local governments of Orire, Ogo-Oluwa, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Ibarapa North, Oorelope, Kajola, Atisbo, Olorunsogo, Irepo, and Saki East.
According to the commissioner, the third group of tax payers will pay N20,600 in taxes and development fees.
According to Olayiwola, the government would further assure orderly expansion that would support socioeconomic development, safety and security, aesthetics, and the health of both citizens and state residents.
According to InsightnaijaTV, Mr. Femi Awakan, the State Chairman of the Internal Revenue Board, and Mr. Tilewa Folami, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Lands, both attended the meeting.
Additionally present were Directors of Town Planning from the 33 local governments in the state as well as Mrs. Mofoluwake Adebiyi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development.
