Anambra State Government on Wednesday, announced a two-month window for the ‘Operation Show Your Building Permit’ spanning from August 1 to October 31, 2024.
The time lapse is a period when all property owners with buildings that lack necessary approvals are required to regularize their building plans or face the consequences.
This was part of the directives issued by the state government to mitigate the incidence of building collapse in the state, as announced by the Chairman, Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB), Barr Chike Maduekwe.
Maduekwe announced this during a press conference at the ANSPPB headquarters in Awka, Anambra State Capital.
“This period of grace is an opportunity for compliance and to avoid penalties that may be imposed after the expiration of the grace period.
“To regularize your building plan, please visit the ANSPPB for necessary documentation and procedures at the ANSPPB headquarters, Old Government Station, Amawbia, Awka Capital Territory, Anambra State.
“Failure to comply with this directive after the stipulated period will result in appropriate sanctions.
The state government is also saying that the spate of buildings collapse is becoming alarming and has directed that with immediate effect, all permits for ongoing construction projects must be suspended.
All developers handling building projects in the state are required to bring their approval documents for revalidation.
Explaining that the state government is not revoking all existing building permits, Maduekwe said it is ordering its revalidation to be sure that the approval given is what the developer is interpreting.
“Most developers after obtaining building permit approval do not engage relevant professionals in the building industry, ANSPPB will now, therefore, audit and ensure that these professionals have been engaged in all ongoing constructions.
“This is an already existing requirement in the building regulation, but because there is shortage of personnel, developers get approval and begin to do what they like.
“Also, any development that commences without seven days prior notice to ANSPPB will be deemed illegal and is liable to be demolished and the developer will be made to face the full embrace of the law.
“During the audit, any building that are found to have structural integrity issues will be subjected to non-destructive testing (NDT) by the Material Testing Laboratory, which the law requires us to collaborate with.
“Furthermore, soil investigation report has now become a mandatory requirement for most constructions in Anambra State and all buildings above two floors must submit Geotechnical surveys, failing which there will be severe penalties.
“In the past, we found that most of these buildings that collapsed had to do with the soil and the kind of foundation put in place,” he said.
Barr Maduekwe revealed that the state government would now hire building consultants nominated by professional bodies, structural engineers, architects, to monitor construction sites and vet plans statewide.
He also said that the Board planned to intensify efforts on statutory stage inspections as well as signing of stage certification forms by relevant professionals, who would be liable for any building failure or collapse, not government staff.
