Physical Planning Board seeks cooperation of rural builders

PEOPLE who build houses in the rural communities in all the 21 local government areas in Anambra State have been advised to obtain official approval from the Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ASPPB) before embarking on such projects or risk the demolition of the unauthorised structures.

  Reading this riot act while fielding questions from newsmen, the Executive Chairman of ASPPB, Chike Maduekwe, said the law for registration of new building plans was not restricted to urban centers alone, pointing out that the board’s offices are located in all the local government headquarters to facilitate easy access to people in the hinterland.

  He threatened that the board would soon roll out its bulldozers to pull down unauthorised houses around the state, both in the urban and rural territories, in order to curb the impunity of the erring defaulters.

  The ASPPB boss explained that the state government had set up some task forces to tackle “certain challenges that are becoming intractable,” such as those engaged in security operations, decongestion of roads and to flush out criminals, prostitutes and hoodlums from dark spots, as well as dismantling of shanties and slums used as hideouts by the underworld elements.

  Outlining the major duties of the board, Maduekwe explained that it handles the physical planning and developmental control in both urban and rural areas of the state with enabling law and requisite staff for efficient and effective discharge of its operations.

  He further lamented what he described as “high level of lawlessness and impunity in the society,” and sternly warned potential house owners to obtain official permission and approved building plans before embarking on such project “as a matter of fundamental rule.”