The Edo State Ministry of Physical Planning, Urban and Regional Development will on Thursday commence Operation Show Your Building Plan (OSYBP) exercise in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo Central Senatorial Zone of the State.
In a statement, the Ministry said the exercise is intended to extend the Building Approval sentitisation campaign to Edo Central Senatorial District, to ensure that laws and regulations on buildings and physical planning are enforced uniformly across the State and adhered to.
“Developers in the area will be expected to show their Planning Permits upon demand. Buildings that constitute infractions will be sealed. The teams from Benin City will join their colleagues to carry out a Town wide exercise. Residents are enjoined to co-operate with officers of the Ministry to avoid the breach of the peace,” it said.
According to the statement, the government “is determined to ensure that we monitor developments across the State and certify that all buildings meet the minimum standards set by the Ministry. This is in line with the Masterplans being developed for the State and to prevent incidences of building collapse.
“The exercise will be extended to major towns in the State which include Uromi, Irrua, Ubiaja, Auchi and Igarra. This will ensure that they are properly captured within the State's Masterplans.”
“The exercise will enable us to ascertain the level of compliance of developers in the area offices to building regulations. We want to know how many of the developers have applied for building plans, and in addition, do an on-the-spot needs assessment of what other requirements may be needed to deliver on the requirements for town planning work in the area offices,” the statement added.