The Edo State Government (EDSG) has commenced a demolition exercise targeting illegal structures and shanties within the Benin City metropolis. The initiative aims to improve the cleanliness, safety, and overall aesthetic appeal of the state.
The operation, spearheaded by the Development and Building Control Agency (DBCA), took place at Dumez Junction along Sapele Road. Officials from the DBCA, accompanied by security operatives, carried out the demolition.
Representing the Managing Director of the DBCA, Hon. Igabali Imoisili Darlington, the Director of the Department of Development Control, Town Planner Henry Enabulele, emphasized that the exercise is a crucial component of the agency’s development control mission to give the state a facelift.
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“This exercise is part of the development control mission to give the state a facelift,” Enabulele stated, reiterating the government’s commitment to urban renewal.
Hon. Igabali had previously received directives from the state governor to rid the city of illegal shanties and clear debris. The DBCA plans to extend the operation to other open spaces where unauthorized structures have been erected and, in some instances, occupied by criminal elements.
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“We will be visiting other open spaces because these people think they can just erect structures anywhere they want to,” Enabulele explained. “About three notices have been served to them before now, informing them of the need to vacate the said areas. Such places could pose as criminal hideouts, and the government is doing all it can to reduce criminality in the state. Such illegal structures and shanties will no longer be tolerated in the city.”
The DBCA confirmed that prior to the demolition, multiple notices were served to the occupants of the targeted structures, advising them to vacate the premises. The government views these unauthorized settlements as potential breeding grounds for criminal activity and is taking steps to mitigate this risk.
Hon. Igabali further announced that the DBCA will collaborate with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability and Parks and Gardens to beautify the reclaimed open spaces. The government intends to transform these areas into visually appealing and beneficial public spaces rather than leaving them vacant. This collaborative effort aims to ensure the long-term sustainability and positive impact of the urban renewal initiative.
