Jang Orders Demolition of illegal Structures Built on Waterways

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News From The State Thursday, July 3rd, 2014

From Agabus Pwanagba, Jos

In its effort to control flood disaster, the Plateau State Government has directed that houses built on waterways be demolished.

Plateau state governor Jonah Jang

Governor Jonah Jang gave the directive on Wednesday while inspecting ongoing projects in Jos, the state capital and its environs.

The Governor said: “One thing I have observed at Utonkon road and here at the Secretariat Junction is people building right in to the water ways and I have given directive to the Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development to ensure that all these houses are demolished; they are illegal structures, they don’t have any building Plan.

“I wonder if they have Certificate of Occupancy but if the Ministry of Lands and Survey did their usual thing by giving Certificate of Occupancies in those areas and we find out from the files who issued those certificates… they will be disciplined accordingly.

“These are illegal structures, I don’t expect to pay any compensation before demolishing them”, the Governor stressed.

“This is an information to the owners, they will be written and they will be given a little time to pack out so that we can clear the water ways, we can see the course of change in the whole weather, rain is getting more and more and these areas have started flooding”. He lamented.

On new Government House under construction which it was gathered has gulped over N5 billion, Jang said “I have been putting a lot of pressure on them because we want to move the government house there before the termination of this administration, we want the new administration to take over from the new government house…”

The Governor emphasized: “Let me say it again, Plateau is one of the first States that were created in this country and it will surprise people that this is the first time we are building a government house; where the Governor used to stay was built as Presidential lodge and we don’t have anywhere the President could stay when he comes to Jos”.

Jang said he was impressed over the ongoing work on the flyover and the road networks in the state, assuring that efforts were on to complete and commission the projects before 2015.