Oyo marks 2,155 houses for demolition

By Punch -

A total of 2,155 houses have been marked for demolition by a committee which assessed the structures affected by the flood disaster that ravaged Ibadan and its environs on August 26, 2011.

Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and Habitat, Mr. Wasiu Dauda, after the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the state on Saturday said the demolition of the affected structures would commence before April 15.

Dauda explained that his ministry, in conjunction with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, discovered that not all the affected houses were built in accordance with the stipulated water setback.

He said, “We have gone very far on the decision to demolish all illegal structures that fall within the approved 15 meters setback to waters and streams in the state. Of the 2,155 structures that were marked for demolition by the committee those that are not affected by the water setback will not be demolished, even though they were affected by the flood disaster.

“We discovered that houses that were as far as 45 meters from the water channels were affected by the flood. We won’t go ahead to demolish such buildings but we shall ensure that we dredge the streams and water channels so as prevent a future occurrence.

“Contracts of dredging of a total of 46 streams have already been awarded. The Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has to certify that the affected buildings should be demolished if illegally built.”

According to him, 13 bridges have been approved for construction and rehabilitation. The bridges are in Apete, Olomi, Ayeye, Secretariat, Agodi, Aladorin and Sakutu.

The commissioner added, “This administration has been able to improve on environmental sanitation to zero level from the minus 10 level where we met it.

“Sanitation is a very big issue in Oyo State as the situation was terrible. But we have been able to improve things as a result of the weekly and monthly sanitation exercises introduced by the government.

“On Saturday – three men, Isiaka Sodiq, Tunde Musbau and Sola Sanusi – were arrested and penalised for loitering and assaulting environmental sanitation officers during the exercise.”

Dauda urged all residents to take the issue of hygiene seriously.