Scene of the demolition
The Ogun State Government on Tuesday demolished a building worth N34m belonging to a Federal Government agency, Public Complaints Commission, in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The building, which was still under construction, had become a pile of rubble when our correspondent visited the site, located opposite the governor’s office, Oke Mosan.
Bulldozers and trucks belonging to the state government were also stationed at the site.
About four officials of the state government from the Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning were also present, supervising the demolition.
One of the officials who declined to disclose his identity to journalists, said the structure did not have the approval of the state government.
Building materials such as gravels, and sharp sand among others, were also carted away.
Speaking with journalists later about the incident, the Deputy Director of the commission in Ogun State, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, said the exercise was done in bad faith.
He explained that the agency had on Tuesday received two letters from the Abeokuta Central Zonal Planning Office, ordering the agency to stop work. He said the agency also received a contravention notice from the state government.
In the letters obtained by our correspondent, the state government claimed that the commission embarked on the construction of a building “suspected to be without a development permit.”
Adeyemi wondered why the state government would embark on such demolition barely 24-hours after the letters were served on the commission.
He said the commission was apportioned the land among those lying on the Federal Enclave on Kobape Road, and that it was given to the Federal Government in 1983 by the then state government.
He said, “Initially, they claimed that the parcel of land belonged to the state government. I informed them that the land in question belongs to the commission and that the land had been allocated to us by the administration of the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, it is called Federal Enclave.
“The problem began when we erected a perimeter fence sometime last year and this was pulled down by this same agency of the state government.
“With this development, we have written series of letters to the Director-General of Lands and Survey. We showed them the Master Plan of the place, the Plot number which is Plot 4 on the Federal Government enclave.
“Other Federal Government agencies on the master plan include Federal Audit Department, Federal Information Centre, Nigeria Bank for Commerce and Industries, among others.
“So far we had spent N34m on the building before it was demolished.”
Reacting on behalf of the state government, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Stephen Adewolu, said he was not aware of the demolition.
He, however, said before anyone embarked on construction work anywhere in the state, such person must obtain an approved building plan.
He said, “I am not aware of the demolition you are talking about, but before anyone commences any building construction anywhere in the state, he or she must have obtained approved building plan.
“Ask those people whether they have an approved building plan.”
BY SAMUEL AWOYINFA
