The Bayelsa State Government has advised residents of Yenagoa, the state capital, and its environs, ministries and agencies to obtain planning permits before embarking on physical development and construction activities.
The Executive Chairman, Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board (BSPPDB), Hon Kuroakegha Dorgu, also warned that those that failed to comply and obtain genuine permits would be dragged before the physical Planning and Development tribunal for prosecution.
Dorgu gave this advice yesterday during a visit by the members of the State House of Assembly Committee on Physical Planning and Development as part of their oversight functions led by Hon. Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown.
Read Also:Bayelsa voters vow to stop rigging
He emphasised the need for government’s ministries and agencies to always obtain building permits from the Board before embarking on any project in the state.
He stated that other agencies of the Federal Government always complied whenever they wanted to carry out any building projects in the state, noting that they would first approach the Board to obtain building permits.
Dorgu pointed out that the same procedure should be applicable to the state-owned ministries and agencies.
He noted that the law establishing the Board did not exempt anyone, adding that any ministry or agency that did not comply, would be taken to the Physical Planning and Development Tribunal for prosecution.
The Executive Chairman also hinted that plans were underway to carry out urban renewal in some areas of Yenagoa metropolis, stressing that the Board was the only agency of government saddled with the responsibility of planning the state aside controlling development.
He further said that with the proclamation of new planning areas by Governor Douye Diri, plans would soon be designed for those areas for development.