News
Edo Govt raises alarm over conversion of homes to hotels, clubs, lounges in Ihama, Boundary,Country Home Areas
….To reverse trend
Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki has decried the illegal conversion of residential buildings for commercial use, and assured that government will reverse the trend and bring sanity to the area in line with observations and recommendations of residents and stakeholder
The governor gave the position yesterday at a stakeholders meeting in Benin city
He explained that a government committee had discovered that over 80% of homes have been converted to commercial purposes without approval and that would no longer be condoned.
Mr. Obaseki who condemned the illegal conversion of residential buildings for commercial use in the Benin metropolis during the stakeholders’ meeting with residents and business owners in Ihama, Boundary and Country Home Roads, in Benin City, said the state government is determined to create a better city for future generations.
He noted the increase in night clubs, lounges and other commercial activities in Ihama, Boundary and Country Home Roads, stating that the trend was worrisome as it was distorting the original plan for the residential area.
“What we had in the 1970s and 1980s is no longer what it is today. GRA stopped on Aguobasimwin when I was growing up. Boundary Road was the boundary of GRA. At that time, the area was planned. The houses were purely residential. The area for commercial use was clearly demarcated.”
The governor decried the spate of illegal conversions from residential buildings to clubs and lounges in the metropolis, noting that developers no longer take the drainage system, electricity supply and other amenities into consideration when developing their property.
“If you convert a residential building into a hotel, how will the 11KVA line in the area accommodate that? The power consumption by one hotel is what ten to twenty houses consume. Then on the social side, after a hard day, you come home to sleep and after switching off the television, you are in your bedroom and noise from the clubs won’t allow you to sleep.”
Obaseki assured that while he was determined to leave a safe and planned city for future generations, he was not going to put anyone out of business, adding, “It is not our goal to put people out of work or business. Our goal is to make sure we organise things. Let’s plan an area, if you want to build lounges, plan a place for such businesses.
“It is not good that we destroy future generations by exposing ten years old children to sell cigars, hard drugs, and other vices. We also want a win-win situation. We will do what majority has agreed and ensure we take care of minority.”
In her presentation, Edo State Commissioner for Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Isoken Omo noted that the commercialization of the GRA was causing high traffic, increase in drug use and noise population.
“Imagine bring exposed to 90 decibels (90dB) of noise at night, can you sleep? The lounges and clubs lack sound proofing, results in loitering and anti- social behaviours. Homeless children act as “If you live in that area, you have to rush home early or wait till very late at night to access your home. Is that the kind of life we want?”
Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Hon. Jonathan Lawani cautioned against illegal conversion of private homes to commercial use, pointing that a committee was set up to oversee the issue.
He said the committee discovered that over 80% of homes have been converted to commercial purposes without approval and that would no longer be condoned.
End
…..Party Rescinds Sanctions
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rescinded sanctions slammed on former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, and ex-Senate President, Pius Anyim, over alleged anti-party activities.
Benue Governor Samuel Ortom, Ibrahim Shema of Kastina state and other party Chieftains also sanctioned got soft landings after a crucial meeting of the national working committee of the party yesterday in Abuja
Recall that the party top shots were suspended by the embattled Iyorchia Ayu leadership over alleged anti party activities
But in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, yesterday Thursday, March 30, the party announced that its National Working Committee,NWC, has reversed the suspension of the party’s chieftains.
Ologunagba noted that the PDP NWC also reversed Governor Ortom’s referral to the party’s disciplinary committee.
He said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its meeting today, Thursday, March 30, 2023, extensively discussed recent developments in the party.
“The NWC recognised the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive Party in the overall interest of our teeming members and Nigerians in general.
“Consequent upon the above, the NWC reverses the referral of the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee.
“The NWC in the same vein reverses the suspension of the following members of our great party: H.E Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State); Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State); Sen. Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State); Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State); Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State).
“This decision is without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary disciplinary action against any member of the party at any time pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity, and harmony in our party at this critical time.
“The PDP must remain focused as we continue to take every necessary action to recover the stolen mandate freely given by Nigerians to our party and presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal,” the PDP spokesperson stated.
Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA), yesterday said there was nothing wrong in applying legal means to stop the inauguration of the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023 because the February 25, 2023 election that produced him is still being actively challenged in court by leading candidates in the poll.
HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the so-called alarm raised by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday that some politicians are plotting an interim government should not be used as an obstacle to stop the petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) challenging Tinubu’s Victory
The DSS warning followed a petition by the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo that the DSS should invite Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, over their rejection of Tinubu as the President-Elect.
Similarly, Atiku had earlier in March led a protest to the Abuja office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject the result of the February 25 poll declared by the electoral umpire.
Both Atiku and Obi alleged electoral malpractices in the poll and are in court to challenge the declaration of Tinubu as President-Elect by INEC.
HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “The Department of State Services should not rope in powerful opposition forces such as Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar with a view to finding some frivolous charges to hang on their necks to frustrate their formidable petitions against the outcome of the February 25 presidential poll.
“The DSS must work for all of Nigeria and not work as errand boys of Tinubu and his allies who only recently made claims that some persons want to stop his swearing in. By the way, there is nothing wrong in applying legal means to stop his inauguration because the election is being actively challenged. Nothing should be used as obstacles to obstruct Obi and Atiku’s petitions.
He advised that ,“The DSS should go after arm smugglers, kidnappers, bandits and terrorists and leave politicking for politicians.”
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council has felicitated with Solomon Arase, a retired Inspector General of Police on his appointment as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
In a statement signed by the union Chairman, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, the union described the appointment as well deserved.
The union expressed optimism that Arase will bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new assignment to his father land.
The union prayed God Almighty to grant him the knowledge and wisdom to reposition the Police Service Commission for better service delivery.
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