Enugu State Government Demolishes Structures In the City Capital [GALLERY]

Uche Anya

The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, or ECTDA, has demolished illegal structures at the Independence Avenue location of Breathe Restaurant & Lounge in Enugu. The reasons given for the demolition included a lack of title documents, a fraudulent Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) submission, the construction of more buildings than were approved, and changing the purpose of a building permit without approval, among no offenses.

The developer was alleged to have obtained a building permit using a C-of-O for GRA; however, ECTDA did not demolish the two permitted buildings (a security house and a one-story building) to enable the developer to regularize the structures with the appropriate application in the appropriate plot and zone.

According to the agency, it used its authority to take action after the building plan and permit were revoked.

According to the agency, it acted in accordance with the legal authority granted to it and on the basis of item 11 of the sworn affidavit submitted by the developer, Ndubuisi Madueke, in support of his application for a building permit. This action was taken in response to the withdrawal of the building plan and permit.

In the said item 11, the developer had sworn: “If at any point it is found that any information stated in my drawing is false, or that I deviate from the contents of the building drawing submitted to the authority containing my intended development plan, that this owner/builder permit is deemed invalid and automatically stand revoked.”

ECTDA had issued a warning about a week ago regarding the alleged spread of false building permits, forged title documents, permit manipulation, and illegal structures in various parts of Enugu city. It claimed to have revoked multiple permits and approvals for these structures because they constituted a risk to public and environmental safety.

According to vanguard;

The Executive Chairman of ECTDA wrote a letter dated February 16, 2024, addressed to the restaurant's owner and bearing reference number ENS/ECTDA/ADM/376/VOL.1/27. The letter was titled “Withdrawal of Approved Building Plan/Permit” and was accompanied by the Building Permit number ECTDA/EPC/1380, which approved the construction of a one-story restaurant unit, a one-room self-contain bungalow for security house only, as well as a C-of-O for Plot 31 Ekulu River Layout, GRA, Enugu. The Executive Chairman of ECTDA wrote: “I hereby write to refer to the above subject matter for strict compliance of the Enugu Municipal Master Plan, and inform you that your approval for building construction issued by the agency with plan No. ECTDA/EPC/1380 DATED 2nd May 2023 has been withdrawn for the following reasons:

Retracted on May 2, 2023: The following explanations

“i. Non-payment of necessary fees to the Government for Building Plan Approval/Permit.

“ii. Fraudulent submission of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of a property at Ekulu River Layout in GRA to obtain approval/permit for building of a property at Independence Layout.

"v. Change of purpose clause without approval.

“vi. Failure to abide/comply with all application laws, requirements, ordinances, building codes and zoning regulations, as contained in the Owner/Builder Permit Affidavit form signed and sworn in a competent court of law by your own very self (see item 7 of the copy attached).

“vii. Failure to notify the agency of any addition, deletions, or changes to any information that you provided on the affidavit disclosure (see item 10).”

The developer stated that his Owner/Builder Plan Permit is “deemed invalid and automatically stand revoked” should it be discovered that he provided false information or deviated from the building plans submitted in pursuit of the application. The ECTDA Chairman also cited item 11 of the sworn affidavit in support of his declaration.

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