By Nelly Okpakpor
As part of an on-going process to ensure strict compliance with building regulations in the state, the Delta State Ministry of Urban and Regional planning has continued the sealing of construction sites whose owners had no approved building plans, warning that erring developers to abide by the existing building regulations of the state government.
The state government considers a building site illegal if it has not passed through the extant regulatory processes which the Ministry of Urban Renewal is mandated by law to carry out, culminating in the issuance of an Approved Building Plan.
One of the illegal developers, Frankbrian Resort Limited, located along Isah Road, Ogwashi-Uku, easily comes to mind as the manager caused quite a stir.
But if he thought that would stop his business premises from being sealed, having failed to produce an approved building plan, his ploy did not quite work out.
Earlier, while representing the Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Engr. Ifeanyi Anoka, during a development control exercise, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Charity Ehimen and a team of town planners in the ministry discovered that the resort was more than just a hotel, but occupying an expanse of land also containing a club house, poultry farm, rental business and some gigantic buildings which were at the foundation stage.
Following the discovery about a month ago, a “stop work” notice was served on the hotel, but rather than abiding by the notice, work was fast progressing at the site, as last Friday’s visit revealed. Hence, despite the unruly behaviour of the manager and some of the staff, the premises were sealed.
Also sealed at Isah Road, Ogwashi-Uku were Elfosinmi Gas Plant which although was reported as ‘non-existent’ by the Ogwashi-Uku area planning office, they were seen doing business with their gates wide open. Findings showed that it was currently sealed by the ministry, as well as F-Whytt Hotel which had also gone ahead with construction activities despite a ‘stop work’ notice earlier served on them for not having an approved building plan.
On the same day, the ministry sealed a gigantic site under construction along the Asaba expressway as well as visited the Rain Oil Gas Plant, Azagba-Ogwashi.
At the latter location, although the manager presented some documents, it was discovered that it was signed by an area planning officer in Asaba which is clearly outside his operational jurisdiction.
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