Edo stops construction of stalls at Benin police officers’ mess

.New CP declares war on cultism

Edo State Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development has sealed the construction site of new stalls at the Nigeria police officers’ mess on Ikpokpan Road, Benin City, for allegedly failing to provide approval for the project.

Director of Physical Planning and Development Control, Enabulele Henry, who led the enforcement team to the site, said the building contravened extant building laws.

He said: “The siting of buildings in any part of the state is controlled by us. We have been following up on the development for some time. When they started this work, we went to the site and stopped them on December 6.
“They are distorting the plan of the Government Reserved Area (GRA). Also, this is government land, which was allocated to the police, where their officers can relax. They are converting into a commercial property. The increased activity is going to generate traffic, which is going to impact the Third Junction in that axis.”

He noted that the government is poised to control traffic flow in the area, adding that with such a project in the area, the purpose of the traffic management initiative will be defeated.

“They came to our office and we asked them to provide their approval before they could do anything. They said they had heard and would revert. But during the public holiday, they went back and started work, even at night. They started another one as well. We have now come out to say they can’t continue.

“Government has put in place the Benin City Masterplan and the Edo State Regional Development to manage development in the state so that people don’t build indiscriminately,” he said, urging the police to abide by the laws in the land.”

Meanwhile, the new Commissioner of Police for Edo State, Funsho Adeboye, yesterday, officially assumed duty in Benin with a warning to cult members disturbing the peace of the state to leave or face the full weight of the law.

The CP also warned officers and men of the command to stay away from corruption and other infractions while carrying out their duties.
Adeboye, who was received by top officers of the command, said his administration would be propelled by democratic policing and fear of God.

He said: “Cultism is a dangerous trend which we are ready to curb. The Inspector General of Police has resolved that this menace of cultism should be curbed without reservation and Governor Godwin Obaseki is on the same page with the police’s resolve on cultism.”

He said the command, under his watch, would not fold its arms and allow cult groups to dent the image of the administration. “My main priority, as commissioner of police in Edo, is to put an end to cultism through lawful means,” he said.

The CP advised parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to desist from cultism, saying those disturbing the peace of the public would be apprehended and diligently prosecuted.

He also called for cooperation of the judiciary so that any person arrested for contravening the law would not go unpunished.
“I also want to call on the public to give useful information to the police to nip crime in the bud. I want to call on journalists as well, to support the police in the fight against crime and criminality,” he added.