The Anambra State government on Friday demolished illegal structures and shanties in the state.
The demolished structures included shanties around the perimeter fence of public buildings in Nkisi, and an ongoing building on a canal in Enekwasumpu, Omogba area of Onitsha.
The Managing Director of Anambra Physical Planning Board (AnPPB), Mr. Chike Maduekwe, told journalists in Awka that the structures pose environmental and security threats to the people of the areas.
Maduekwe said the three-month notice given to developers to provide proof of building approval had elapsed and enforcement had commenced.
He said Governor Chukwuma Soludo had directed the board to ensure full compliance with physical planning and control, adding that the administration was a government of law and order.
The AnPPB boss said the exercise would be total and continuous as the government would not want to put the lives of people at risk no matter how highly placed the offenders were.
Maduekwe said: “Operation Show Your Building permits grace has expired and we have started visiting those who we feel are recalcitrant.
“We got a report that somebody was building on a canal and upon inspection, we found that the man had been warned long ago.
“He came to AnPPB for approval but we did not grant him and he went ahead.
“This site poses a security challenge because the report we have says girls are raped here at night and criminals operate at night.
“He also uses private security to beat up passers-by and seize their cell phones.
“We will monitor this place and will invite the developer to come and explain other things we saw that we cannot talk about openly.
“We want to warn everybody, including government officials that they must obtain approval before building. If proof of approval is not provided, the structure will be brought down.”
