By Francis Sadhere, Warri
The Delta State government on Monday began the demolition of illegal structures erected on waterways across the state as part of measures to combat flooding across the state.
The demolition which started in Ugboroke road in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state, saw the bringing down of a storey building erected on the waterways without proper building documentation.
The demolition team comprising officials from the office of the Director-General, Special Duties, Delta State Governor’s House; Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning as well as the Ministry of Justice, among others, were on ground with a heavy duty bulldozer at Ugboroke community where the major canal that passes through the locality had been blocked by some illegal structures including shops, residential houses and a church, under construction.
Owners of some of the erring houses earlier earmarked by government for demolition were seen in emergency bid to dismantle their roofs just as many tenants were also sighted hurriedly packing out their valued properties, apparently in order not to be caught in the web of the demolition.
The Director General, Special Duties, Government House Asaba, Mr Frank Omare said the demolition exercise is one of the mandate giving to him is to do across the state.
Omare explained that “the team had earlier given over two months notice to all owners of the affected illegal buildings, those who have built on natural waterways, and those who do not have approval plans, to remove their buildings.”
According to Omare, “What is going on here is that this very building that we are demolishing does not even have buildings approval. This is Ugboroke, whenever it rains, everywhere is flooded. This cannot be allowed. Not because of an individual interest are we going to compromise the interest of millions of Deltans.
“Those blackmailing and destroying the image of the Governor of Delta State should know that we are not doing what we doing based on sentiment. What we are doing is going to touch everywhere because the falling away of the yellow leaves, is a warning to the new ones.
“Today is the 7th of August, and we are going to touch every area in the State. This is why we are here. We have about seven equipment (bulldozers) scattered all over Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas. What we have done here, we are going to do in all other local governments.
“So, this is a warning to every other person. So, nobody should tell you that he is working with Governor Sheriff Oborivwori and you should give him one thousand or one million naira and your building will be saved. Or you are working for Frank Omare, give me two hundred thousand naira and your building will be spared. In fact arrest anybody that wants to compromise because this is the way to go.
“More than 40 percent of houses in this area do not have a septic tank and this is wrong. We feel that this is the way to go.
“We are constructing a massive drainage system in Delta State to connect all drains. Hence, the need to remove all structures hampering the flow of water.
“The Ministry of Urban Renewal are the approving authorities. I want to see your five meter approval to the drainage and building. Officials of the Ministry of Urban Renewal are all here with me and we are doing the right thing.
“We are going to be bold, focused and we are going to ensure that nobody is victimized and nobody should victimize Government because these are task payers money that we are using to bring equipment for this work. The rains and flood is coming.
“Delta State Government is taking the cost of bringing in all these equipment to ensure that at the end of the day everybody is happy.
“The Governor of Delta State is a street man. He understands most of these areas, so nobody can tell him what to do. I am completely taking responsibility of what is happening here today. We are ready for those who think they can threaten.
“What is going on here now is a warning to others and that is why I said the falling is the yellow leaves is a warning to the new ones.
“We are very ready to do the needful. Any building that has approval, I want to see that approval. Either they are wrongly approved or induced, we are going to take responsibility. And this why the Ministry is here to tell me how they could have approved a building under the waterways. All these are administrative things that we need to handle.”
