Ondo State Starts Demolition of Structures Blocking Waterways to Prevent Flooding

The Ondo State Government has begun demolishing buildings and other structures on waterways in Akure, the state capital. This is part of the government's efforts to prevent flooding and enforce physical planning laws.

A statement from Williams Oni, the Director of Information at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, said the demolition started along Oyemekun Road. This road is a major route in the capital city. The exercise is part of a larger campaign to remove developments that block natural drainage channels.

The goal of this operation is to lower the risk of flooding and erosion during the rainy season. It also aims to tackle violations of urban planning rules that have led to uncontrolled building in parts of the state capital.

The demolition work is being done by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development alongside the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical and Ecological Control.

During the exercise, Sunday Olajide, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, warned developers and property owners against putting up buildings on waterways or in government setbacks without getting approval first. He was represented by Abimbola Tofowomo, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry’s Building Control Unit.

The commissioner said the government will keep enforcing planning rules to ensure orderly urban development. He mentioned that the ministry has stepped up monitoring and enforcement actions to ensure that building plans are followed. He also warned that buildings that violate planning laws could be demolished.

“The government will not compromise on physical planning regulations. Any structure built against approved standards or located on government setbacks and waterways will face enforcement actions,” he stated.

Elisha Ebijimi, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical and Ecological Control, also spoke. He said that the owners of the affected properties had received notices before the demolition started.

According to him, this operation will allow for the expansion of blocked waterways and the building of concrete retaining walls to improve drainage and reduce erosion.

Mr Ebijimi claimed that officials found deliberate attempts to block drainage channels during inspections. He said some openings meant for water flow had been blocked, causing water to build up under parts of the road.

He added that government engineers had to remove some of the asphalt to let out the trapped water and check the condition of the layers underneath.

Mr Ebijimi showed a sample of the asphalt that was taken from the site. He dismissed claims of poor construction quality, saying the material met engineering specifications.

“The approved thickness is 100 millimetres, but what we measured here is between 120 and 125 millimetres,” he explained.

He also mentioned that the drainage improvement works at this location should be done within two weeks. Similar enforcement actions will then move to other parts of Akure and later to Ondo town.