Edo State Development and Building Control Agency has stepped up efforts to regulate physical development across the state, demolishing over 500 illegal shanties in the Ugbor and Etete areas of the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Benin City.

The agency said the enforcement exercise was part of wider measures to ensure compliance with building standards and promote safe, orderly urban growth in line with the state’s development agenda.

Established by a 2022 state law, the agency is responsible for overseeing building approvals and monitoring construction activities to ensure adherence to approved plans and regulatory codes across Edo State.

At a press briefing in Benin City yesterday, the general manager, Hon. Igabali Imoisili Darlington, said the agency’s operations aligned with the government’s SHINE agenda, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and sustainable development.

He added that its activities extend beyond Benin City to Edo Central and Edo North.

Imoisili disclosed that upon assuming office, the agency encountered significant challenges, including low public trust and poor compliance levels.

“We met a system plagued by low public trust and poor compliance, with fewer than 100 registered building plans monthly, despite over 500 ongoing constructions within the same period,” he said.

He, however, noted that reforms introduced by the agency have led to significant improvement.

“We have recorded over a 200 per cent increase in registered building plans monthly, driven by renewed public confidence and ongoing reforms. We are optimistic of reaching between 500 and 1,000 approvals monthly,” he stated.

The general Manager further revealed that the agency has created an opportunity for property owners without approvals to regularise their documentation.

“Proper documentation enhances property value and ensures safety,” Imoisili said, while also lamenting resistance from some communities that has hindered enforcement efforts.

On recent enforcement actions, he said, “Over 500 illegal shanties were removed in the Ugbor axis, while structures housing more than 2,000 persons including makeshift buildings, factories, and churches erected under power lines in Etete were cleared.”

He added that political interference has been minimal, stressing that the administration remains committed to enforcing regulations in the interest of environmental safety and urban order. (Leadership)