BEAUTY OF TOWN PLANNING AND LESSON FROM ILLEGAL STRUCTURE DEMOLITION The issue of enforcement for compliance with the urban planning policies and designs by successive administrations, has usually reoccurred due to abuse of opportunities offered by government for the overall welfare of the people. The government normally gives the people the latitude to adhere to rules laid down when going about their various activities, as the first option, while enforcement is employed only when glaring violation of such rules become the order of the day. This has been the situation in Enugu state over the years, resulting in the recurring actions of the regulatory authorities embarking on task force exercises through demolition of structures illegally done, either by way of substandard construction or unauthorized location. The media and other platforms of communication currently, have been awash with stories of demolition of illegal structures and closure of different business locations across the Enugu metropolis by the Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority. This action obviously became overdue, considering the series of warnings issued by the government to the various areas affected, without corresponding compliance by the people, probably riding on the horse of leniency usually offered by the man at the helm of affairs in the state, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, due to his compassionate consideration for the welfare of the citizenry. When in one of the previous administrations in Enugu state, such exercise was embarked upon at the then single-lane Chime Avenue, New Haven, Enugu, there were initial hues and boos against the government action, but soon did it become a beauty to behold, when the road transformed to double-lane. Moreover, the straight view of the road made it clear that the hitherto front view at the affected side of the street, was a product of projected constructions in negation of the original town planning design. It is indeed worrisome and condemnable that people wittingly deviate from normalcy, perhaps with the negative confidence in the aberration of the society, the “everything goes” mentality. Today, at almost all parts of the Enugu capital city, there is the commonplace of residential buildings without provisions for parking lots, thereby subjecting residents to using the streets and roads in the alternative. However, one would not have ordinarily thought that these buildings obtained authorization of the Town Planning Authorities of those areas, if actually they are in sincere operation, but there have always been the common sight of threat symbols and inscriptions to “stop work or remove” structures at such sites only to find them disappear soon, while the structures grow to perfection. Naturally, such ventures stand the risk of what we witness today as a candid exercise to restore the original town planning designs of the capital city and should not generate criticism as perceived at some quarters presently. This is, considering the fact that it is not possible that the developers were not aware of the illegalities of their actions albi initio, while aiding and abetting, in their quest to own property. Much as the authorities have their own share of the blame for compromising in some cases where the developers were granted permit to proceed on such projects, that cannot justify any action of violation of the law. For instance, there is no defence for the buyer of a stolen property or item, once it is discovered. This is especially the case of an ambitious developer who could go as far as seeking authority to extend a property to cover a place where originally, there was a road, thereby blocking public access, because a subsequent authority may discover it and execute a policy of demolition. This is therefore a source of caution and deterrent to those in the mentality of “everything goes” for sanity to take the place of vanity in our socio-economic behavior in the overall interest of progress. It is obvious that no government prays for a situation that calls for demolition of property, but that does not amount to compromise of law that prescribes opportunities and limitations there-in for the accommodation of all shades of interest. For those who think they have been displaced from their various points of economic activities, let them look the other ways and find out that government has provision originally for such businesses elsewhere, rather than distorting the city designs. After all, the present administration in Enugu state has been known for its leniency and priority to the welfare of the people. Naturally, it is initially hard to bear loss, especially when the condition is already hard as experienced in the society today, but every loss has to be borne and it is even more bearable when it is in the public interest. Let`s give the government a chance to implement its policies of public interest, so far as it will not amount to “cutting the nose to spat the face”. Sam Udekwe News and Current Affairs ESBS.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, while he is presently on his M.Sc programme also in Mass Communication, at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is currently the NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
