adminThe Ogun state government declared DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu Ode as an illegal structure since it lacks permit and also broke the state’s physical planning laws.
According to a statement issued by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Olayiwola Abiodun,the developers had repeatedly rebuffed attempts by the state authorities to stop additional construction on the property.
He claimed that despite requests from government officials, the structural engineer in charge of the building did not provide information on the structure’s structural equilibrium.
The statement mentioned the numerous building disasters that had occurred throughout the nation, and added that the state government will not stand by and let one happen.
He however dared the building’s owners to show him any official approval documents they might have on hand, asserting that building a housing firm of that stature must have parking to accommodate both employee and visitor car traffic within and outside the structuree and statute stipulates a tax rate between 45 and 50 percent.
The permanent secretary in his opinion said the government was proactive by partially demolishing the problematic structure which lacked stage certification, that is typically given at each stage of development.
He claimed that between May and October 2022, owners received all relevant letters, including those for abatement, violation, stop work, and demolition, but they were ignored.
Engr. Olayiwola added that the owners were served the necessary notices, including abatement, contravention, stop work and demolition between May and October 2022, which were ignored.
According to the statement, DATKEM Enterprises Limited submitted application for an office building, located along Ibadan Road, Ijebu Ode in 2009 with registration number CB/05/299/2009.
โThe proposal was for five (5) floors with airspace of 3 metres at the right, 5m at the left, 5metres at the rear and a setback of 32.5516 metres to the middle of Ijebu Ode/Ibadan road, Ijebu-Ode.
โThe Zonal Town Planning Office observed during routine monitoring that the construction on site did not conform with the plan granted as there was a deviation from the airspaces and setback.
โIn addition, the building had been modified and enlarged with an additional storey building at the back thereby becoming over density.
โIn view of the above, the following actions were taken:
โContravention Notice with Serial No. 0106983 was served on 24th May 2022.
โStop Work Order with Serial No. 000623 was served on 24th May 2022.
โAnother Stop Work Order with Serial No. 001065 was served on 22nd July 2022 when the first notice was ignored.
โDemolition Notice with Serial No. 0007549 was served on 11th October 2022.
Notice to seal with Serial No. 000815 was served on 4th October 2022.
The statement further revealed that after receiving all of these notices, the developer persisted in moving forward with the construction which led to the site being re-sealed on August 1st, 2023. Yet the developer continued to work on the site while the sealing was in place.
โHowever, the developer wrote an appeal for unsealing, which was considered so as to evacuate the belongings in the premises. Thereafter, quit notice with Serial No. 0030750 was served on 31st August, 2023.
โIn view of the above, since the developer had remained recalcitrant, the Zonal Town Planning Officeโs recommendation for the demolition of the office building was upheld,โ the statement concluded.
