OGUN CLAMPS DOWN ON DEFAULTERS OF TOWN PLANNING LAWS

          Ogun State Government through the State Building Production Management Authority (OGBPMA) has clamped down on defaulters of Town Planning Laws in Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu and Abeokuta areas of the State.

          Addressing newsmen during the enforcement exercise led by Acting General Manager of the Authority, Engr. Olakunle Olaniran, said six structures were sealed, which include a hotel at Obasanjo Hilltop and a Filling Station at Ita Aka, Enugada in Abeokuta, while a Filling Station along Old Ondo road, a commercial buildings at Lagos Garage and Toll Gate were also sealed at Ijebu-Ode, as well as a Filling Station along Sagamu expressway.

          Engr. Olaniran stated that others are a shopping complex along Olisa Street, a commercial building along Ejinrin road, a gas plant under construction on Ibadan road and a set of buildings around Ijebu-Ode GRA extension.

          The Acting General Manager noted that the agency had decided to deploy necessary regulatory and enforcement mechanisms, to further protect the citizenry and ensure that the incidences of building collapse were reduced to the barest minimum.

          Engr. Olaniran pointed out that all sealed buildings committed the offense of building without authorisation, while additional contraventions include building without development permits, obvious structural deformities like sagging beams or non-aligned pillars, poor workmanship, lack of planning information board on site, and many more.

          According to the Acting General Manager, “In Ogun State, the safety of lives and property is paramount to us. This is why we will not overlook any contravention to the stipulated laws in the built industry, because these laws are meant to protect even the detractors themselves, and the general public at large”.

          Engr. Olaniran further noted that some of the buildings sealed had been served necessary notices over a period of two years, but refused to do the needful, imploring the public to always obtain the necessary approvals before, during and after the completion of their construction projects, as well as ensure professional supervision and services for safe and resilient structures that are built in accordance to the laws.