From Ifeoma Ejiofor
The Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB) has demolished illegal structures at Maryland Estate, Edoji, Uruagu Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state.
The staffers of the board in company of security agencies comprising Police, Civil Defense, Military and DSS had on Friday stormed the estate and carried out the operation.
The operation ‘pull down illegal structure’ at Maryland Estate was carried out successfully without any antagonism from any quarter.
A staffer of the board who will not want his name in print said that they are in the industrial town of Nnewi to remove all the illegal structures erected on roads and all the entrance of the proposed estate.
He said that the operation was hinged on the original design of the estate and the registration which was later done with the board.
“Surveyors had earlier at the time of registration designed a befitting layout at Maryland Estate, Edoji in Uruagu Nnewi, which of course, was submitted to the Town Planning Authority.
“But, along the line, some persons who felt that they are above the law moved into the planned estate and started building illegally at wrong places earmarked for different purposes,” he said.
The staffer of the ANSPPB noted that the government has a responsibility of ensuring compliance to standard and respect to original design of an area.
Some of the residents who witnessed the demolition exercise congratulated the government for being proactive in ensuring sanity in the building sector.
They urged the government to beam her searchlight on the entire town of Nnewi as many buildings especially service stations are recklessly built in areas meant for residential purposes.
They pointed out that such development portrays a potential threat to the overall well-being of residents and indigenes alike.