By Ebuka Onyekwelu, Ph.D
The Anambra State Government has announced plans to demolish dilapidated buildings across the state, warning occupants to vacate identified structures within 14 days or risk forced evacuation.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, Esq., disclosed that the ministry had begun identifying unsafe buildings and notifying their owners in accordance with the law.
Ojukwu said the ministry had established a register of dilapidated buildings across all 21 local government areas to facilitate the exercise and safeguard public safety.
He explained that occupants of identified buildings were being served 14-day notices to vacate. Those who failed to comply would be forcibly evacuated, after which the buildings would be demolished, with the cost recovered from their owners, as prescribed by law.
The commissioner identified Iweka Road and Bida Street in Onitsha, as well as Hundred Foot Road in Nnewi, among the locations where several dilapidated buildings had been identified.
He assured residents that the government was making arrangements to bring down the affected structures in the interest of public safety.
