More than 10 structures sited in government reserved areas and designated as illegal by Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA) along Uyo village Road in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital are at the brink of demolition.
The Akwa Ibom government has accepted this recommendation contained in the 17-page White Paper on the report of the commission of Inquiry (Collapsed Church Building) 2016 published Monday, April 9 by the government.
The structures, which include churches, petrol filling stations, event centres and residential building also marked for demolition by UCCDA in 2017, are brimming the road.
In an advertorial, The Weekend Pioneer newspaper had published on Friday, October 20, 2000 revoking all rights of Occupancy on those land bordering the ravine areas of Idim Ikot Ntuen Offot, tributaries of Ikpa river, Idim Eniong, Ikot Ayan, Ikot Ntuen, Ekpri Nsukarra, Anua, Uyo, Afaha Oku, Nduetong Oku all in Uyo local government area for being erected illegally and with impunity.
On the implementation of Uyo master-plan, the government accepted the commission’s recommendation “Uyo Capital City Development Authority should ensure a comprehensive of mater plan for the capital city and enforce compliance. All schools and estates etc. should have approved master-plans and their implementation strictly monitored by the authority.”
The state government further accepted “Government agencies should provide signboards around forest reserved areas and regularly publish areas acquired by government and periodically embark on enlightenment campaigns which will help the innocent public from falling prey to land speculators in such restricted areas.”
However, Dr. Ephraim Edem, a senior lecturer in the Department of Architecture, University of Uyo said “If government or its agency had given approval of building plan to a person, then the structure is not illegal except government wants to demolish and pay compensation to the owner. In other words, if the peson had obtained approval to erect the building, then government has no right to demolish it.”
Edem explained “What I am saying is that shortly after the Reigners Church, Uyo collapsed, there was rumour that those buildings standing along Uyo village road would be demolished. Along the line, I was told that a church on the road got approval for construction. If that building was approved for construction, the same government cannot declare the building illegal, except government says a particular location is not safe for building, makes it public and would not commit itself for approving any building plan, then nobody can oppose government’s decision. Those built anyhow could go.”
Government equally accepted payment of N1 million to dependants or administrators of the estate of the deceased on the record that was with the Ministry of Health as at the time of the incident but rejected the setting up of a Trust Fund for the dependants of the deceased or the injured victims as well as payment of N500,000 to the injured persons.
But the report did not specify the person or authority to pay the said money or amount to the dependants or administrators of the deceased, thus exposing the church or government to litigation by the concerned.
Government has directed the state Ministry of Justice to take appropriate legal action against Anietie Augustine Ndarake and Idorenyin Daniel Udoh for being culpable, while Etido Ekerette Udoh having been found culpable should face internal discipline mechanism of Uyo Capital City Development Authority to serve as a deterrent to others.
