..ISSUES DEMOLITION NOTICES TO THREE CHURCHES IN UYO

Only property owners with structures that have no approved building plans have reasons to worry and make noise over the ongoing routine development control exercise by the Uyo Capital City Development Authority, UCCDA.

Subsequently, those who feel their structures are marked for demolition in error, are expected to report to the Authority with their approved building plan duly signed by an authorized official, rather than rush to cry wolf on the media.

The Chairman of Uyo Capital City Development Authority, Prince Enobong Uwah who spoke with our reporter on Wednesday urged developers to always obtain building approvals from the Authority before erecting any structure within the Capital City.

"Sometimes people could get approvals to erect bungalows but go ahead to build sky scrappers, others build in reserved or restricted areas, or government in furtherance of its development plans may have need for urbanisation and opening up of an area and this could affect structures in such locality."

He said the exercise is normal and not targeted at any particular individual or organisation and warned people to ignore attempt by some structure owners, at whipping sentiments to curry sympathy.

At the routine development control exercise by the Authority earlier on Wednesday,
the representative of the Chairman of the Uyo Capital City Development Authority, and Head of Town Planning Department, TPL Eshiet Freddy, frowned at indiscriminate siting of illegal Developments including shanties, containers, makeshift stores on government right of way, stressing that such structures distort the master plan of Uyo capital city.

The team also inspected structures at Ikot Oku Ikono Junction by flyover, Mbierebe Junction and Mbiabong Etoi by Ring Road Three, Oron Road where they demolised illegal development including shanties, warned road side traders against indiscriminate display of wares.

UCCDA further reiterated the resolve of the Government to stop at nothing to ensure that Uyo metropolis is given a status that befits it and sanity brought to it.

It warned against increasing wave of illegal activities of street traders, indiscriminate display of goods on road setbacks and walkways on major roads.

Mr Freddy, at the monitoring across Ikpa Road by Uniuyo,
observed that street traders displayed their wares on the Government right of way and road corridors thereby impeding traffic and directed them to relocate.

He also issued a contravention and demolition notice to Dunamis Church, Ikpa Road opposite University of Uyo, HolyGhost Ambassador Ministry International, 8 Ekpanya Street, Uyo, as well as God's House of Refuge Ikot Ebido Oku Uyo.

According to the agency, the affected structures do not meet planning standard for approval as the buildings negate minimum requirement for its development, pointing to inadequate setbacks, space standard, building line and area distribution.

The mission of the Agency is to create an effective mechanism and articulate policies for the management of the urban land in accordance with Uyo capital city master plan for maximum utilisation and comfort of the populace .

This follows the vision of Governor Udom Emmanuel to build a beautiful, healthy, efficient, functional and enviable capital city for sustainable growth, that is conducive for living, working and recreation.