The Ogun State Government has appealed to the former governor and senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, to present his documents for regularisation.
DAILY POST reports that the government had on Monday issued a notice of sealing and demolition of the Asoludero Court, the Conference Hotels, and its annex in the Sagamu Government Reserved Area, belonging to the former governor.
According to the state government, the buildings contravened the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022 and its subsidiary regulations.
Briefing newsmen at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre, Okemosan, Abeokuta, the Commissioner for Physical and Urban Development, TPL Tunji Odunlami, said the notice of seal had since been retrieved, explaining that the original three days from the last notice had not elapsed.
“We had to retrieve the notice of seal owing to the two days’ gap in the weekend from the last notice last week. We will ensure we follow the law thoroughly and not contravene any citizens rights,” he said.
Odunlami clarified that the exercise is a verification of the permit status of all types of development, including houses, schools, hospitals, and other commercial buildings in the state, asserting that the goal is not to witch-hunt but to aid urban development and control the use of land in the public interest.
He said, “The attention of Ogun State Government has been drawn to the misrepresentation in respect of its urban renewal initiatives that necessitates an audit of government lands in the Saganu GRA.
“The owners of such properties were served due notices to approach the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority, an agency of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, to present relevant documents in conformity with existing building laws and regulations.
“It is pertinent to note that this is a daily, routine and ongoing activity of this agency and is devoid of witch-hunting, and therefore not designed to harm the interest of any individual. It is a simple and transparent approach which is known and adopted the world over, including most states in Nigeria.
“What we are currently doing is no exception. This exercise had been done in Abeokuta and is now extended to Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode where there is no fuss except this one. It is still going to be carried out in Ota and Ilaro where we also have GRAs.
“All the owner of any building served the notice needs to do is simply to go to the office that issued the notice and present their permit and other documents for verification.”
The commissioner stated that the former governor was yet to make any representation and appealed that he should send his representative to the relevant government office to show his documents for verification.
“As we speak, Otunba Gbenga Daniel is yet to do so or make any representation to that effect. Ogun State Government has a standing mandate to enforce its physical planning laws and does so every day across the State, considering only the law and public good.
“We appeal to Otunba Gbenga Daniel to send his representative to the relevant government office to show his documents for verification and obtain clearance if he is in compliance or advice to rectify any violation,” he added.
