Rivers warns task force on illegal structure against unprofessional conduct

The Rivers State government has cautioned special committees, compliance teams, and task forces to refrain from actions that could tarnish the ministry’s reputation, compromise public trust, and portray the government in bad light.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Evans Bipi, who stated this 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 conversion of impounded public goods for personal use.

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

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

He also warned the compliance teams and task forces against issuing cover letters to developers without government-approved building plans.

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

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

The commissioner also directed the ministry’s compliance teams and task forces to clamp down on violators of the Law banning street trading, illegal markets, motor parks, mechanics, and other unauthorised activities in public spaces, 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 dissolution of the special committee on the enforcement of fencing, outline, and renovation permits of the ministry led by Belema Oba, Prince Uche Nwugha and Tamunoyemieara Kalio.

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, would be reconstituted to improve service delivery.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Wisdom Hebron, cautioned the compliance teams, special committees and taskforces 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, Emmanuel Oti, also cautioned against 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.

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