Rivers Commissioner Warns Urban Development Task Forces Against Misconduct

…Cautions Against Issuing Cover Letters To Developers

The Rivers State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi has warned the Ministry’s Special Committees, Compliance Teams, and task forces to refrain from actions that could undermine their objectives, tarnish the Ministry’s reputation, compromise public trust, and portray the State Government in a bad light.

The Commissioner, at a meeting with Chairmen and Secretaries of the Compliance Committees, also warned them against harassment and intimidation of the public, as well as engaging in unwholesome practices, including the conversion of impounded public goods for personal use.

He emphasized the importance of upholding the ministry’s values and maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability while carrying out their duties.

Bipi charged them to approach defaulters with a human face and utmost civility instead of using force.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi also warned the Compliance Teams and task forces against issuing cover letters to developers without government-approved building plans.

He said such practices can deny the state government its revenue and encourage developers to build without a government-approved plan, which is a major cause of building collapse.

Bipi urged them to rather sanction such defaulting developers for non-compliance and ensure they process their building plans with the Ministry to increase government revenue.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Evans Bipi, also directed the Ministry’s compliance teams and task forces to clampdown on violators of the law banning street trading, illegal markets, motor parks, mechanics, and other unauthorized activities in public spaces in the state, pending the setting up of special committees for that purpose.

He reaffirmed his determination to restore order and sanity in public spaces in the state.

The Commissioner also announced the immediate dissolution of the Special Committee on Enforcement of Fencing, Outline, and Renovation Permits of the Ministry led by Belema Oba, Chairman; Prince Uche Nwugha, Secretary; and Tamunoyemieara Kalio, Member.

He explained that the dissolution followed persistent complaints and negative public perception regarding the activities of the committee.

The Commissioner assured that a new committee, free from the existing entanglements, will be reconstituted soon for better service delivery.

He also warned the compliance teams and task forces against misconduct, as he would not hesitate to dissolve any of them that deviated from their core objectives.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Surv. Wisdom Hebron, cautioned the Compliance Teams, Special Committees, and task forces against insubordination, highhandedness, and recklessness.

He advised them to operate within the ambit of the law and in line with their terms of reference.

On his part, the Assistant Director in charge of Development Control and Enforcement in the Ministry, Tpl. Emmanuel Oti, also cautioned the Compliance Teams, Special Committees, and Taskforces against adopting a hasty, harsh, and desperate approach to enforcing the building law of the state and regulations of the Ministry.

He said such an approach is unprocedural, unconventional, and inconsistent with industry best practices in development control.

Tpl. Oti advised them to serve defaulters with a 7-day notice of non-compliance first, before enforcement under the law, to avoid litigation.

Rivers Commissioner Warns Urban Development Task Forces Against Misconduct is first published on The Whistler Newspaper