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By AbuSatar Hamed
AKURE: The Ondo State Government has said it will never condone any illegal construction across the state, as it was against the extant laws of the state which could also endanger the lives of its citizens.
The State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Alhaji Rasheed Badmus stated this during an inspection tour to a site at Alagbaka, Akure, the Ondo State capital.
He said that it was not in order to construct a petrol station for where you got an approval for hotel, also in residential areas of the state, noting that the state government would not tolerate such illegality.
“Indeed, it is very wrong and unusual for anyone in the state to construct a petrol filling station in the residential areas in the state. It also contravene the extant laws of the Physical Planning, so the state will not tolerate such lawlessness”, Alhaji Badmus said.
He expressed his displeasure over a building Iyeoma Plaza with a portion of land which belonged to Mr. Oluwasegun Adetuwo owner of Show Boy Integrated Limited, which Architectural design contained a proposed five storey hotel building, but now converted to petrol filling station, asking them to remove it immediately.
Badmus said that after his approval from the Ministry for the construction of hotel, it was the concerned citizens in the state that alerted the government that it was converted to petrol filling station in contrary to the initial approval.
“In fact, it was concerned citizens of the area that reported that it is now converting it to petrol filling station, though, it took advantage of unconventional hours to bury an underground petrol tanks, which was an indication that “Mr. Olusegun Adetuwo has an ulterior motive to deviate from the initial approval given to him by the state government,” Alhaji Badmus stated.
The Commissioner said that, after the detection of illegal construction of the tanks and pipes at the site, the Ministry subsequently marked the site and enforcement notice served to him, noting that the “Show Boy Integrated Limited” refused to stop work, he then directed the immediate removal of the tanks, pipes and other items buried on the site, noting that it was done in contravention of the extant laws of Physical Planning and should be removed immediately.
Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Joshua Folayemi said that, it was unconstitutional for anybody to build or construct against the Ministry initial approval, noting that it was an eyesore to meet Petrol Filling Station on the site with approval of proposed five storey hotel building.
“There is rules and regulations for everything in the country, even in this state particular, once you got approval for hotel building, you don’t need to do otherwise, there are some areas which could not be occupied for petrol filling station, like residential areas, no state will give you and approval to do so, why now going contrary? We will never condone such lawlessness, now the Commissioner has ordered its removal”, Folayemi said.
Those on tour to the site with the Commissioner were, Permanent Secretary, Mr. Joshua Folayemi, Director of Physical Planning, Mr. Garuba Sola, Director of Urban Renewal Matters, Mr. Zachariah Alonge, Director of Master Planning, Mr. Tofowomo Abimbola, Director of Monitoring and Enforcement, Mrs. Oyewola Folahanmi, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs. Agi Ayoyinka, Director of Development Permit, Mrs. Ayeni Olusola, Director of Finance and Administration, Mrs. Lucy Akerele, Director of Account, Mr. Omolegan Ebenezer, and Director of Engineering Services, Engr. Olumilola Olusegun.
