Dickson commences demolition of illegal structures in Bayelsa

PEEVED by illegal structures littered in high-brow areas of the state capital, Yenagoa, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State personally led other top officials of the state government to commence demolition of illegal structures and noted that it is a government responsibility to ensure a well-planned city and state.

Dickson averred that government would not be intimidated by the owners no matter their position in society, stressing that all trespassers on the government would have their building demolished.

The governors commence the first exercise, pulling down and the uncompleted filling station at Otiotio area of Yenagoa, belonging to
his in-law, Walton Liverpool, who is also the Executive Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Board.

Speaking with journalists in Yenagoa, he said the exercise was to signpost the commencement of ‘Operation Recover All Government Lands’,  noting that the demolished filling station violated the law.

Dickson posited that once established that the land on which any properties are built belongs to the government, such buildings would be demolished.

The governor said, Today, we are here to signpost the commencement of operation Recover all government lands. Any land with certified document acquired by this government of previous government or land for which government have once paid compensation would be reclaimed, to think that they are forgotten is misleading, because they are important to government, and any that intends to dare us based on their would be dealt with in line with the land.

Dickson alluded ”we won’t allow government original plan for a well-planned society to be disrupted, no it won’t be tolerated in any form or guise.

He pointed that those who have bought and the recipients of money paid to illegally acquire government land, would all be treated according to the law as criminal because one cannot give or purchase illegality.

“And any development that is purported to be put on the land will be considered as unlawful, illegal development and it is an act of
trespass and government will bring them down.

“Now, this phase of demolition is targeted at encroached land, those who have trespassed government land. This will send message to
everybody in Bayelsa and all land-owning people in communities within Yenagoa and across the state where the government is undertaking development.

“We don’t people to go behind us and try to sell lands to unsuspecting members of the public. To the general members of the public,  who are desirous of buying land for development, we welcome that. All of us in this state must join hands for our development.

We have the primary responsibility for planning, we have the primary responsibility for monitoring standards and we are not going to play with the collective interests of our state.

“Private interests that are involved in the account of this illegal transactions, on account of unlawful trespass actions, those private
interest must come down in place of government interest and general interest.

“And today, we are here. And this is not the first time we are doing this; when the construction of Opolo-Elebele road was ongoing, my own compound in Opolo was demolished. I gave the directive for it to be demolished to accommodate the widening of the road.

When it was time for another dualization to take place in the area the deputy governor has a property, I directed the deputy governor and he personally went to oversee the destruction of his fence to conform to government standards.”

Dickson noted that people would no longer be condoned for violating property development laws, the era on building on drainage channels, sewage lines and on government acquired lands were over in the state, saying that his administration was making concerted effort to modernise the state capital.

He warned every prospective investor in the land to approach the Ministry of Lands, stressing that decency and order must be adhered to, and the Restoration Government intends to set the roadmap.

“We have set up several agencies that you can contact. The principal one as far as acquisition of land is concerned is the Ministry of
Lands and Survey. We have set up the computerized title certification system which is the basis. They will let you have the idea. We have physical planning and development board that will pay and receive applications for building permits.

”People build anyhow in Bayelsa, all they do is clear the land and begin to lay bricks, the government would not accept it, because in
a developed society, including areas that are less developed, you can’t put up a building unless you have an approved building plan and you pay for it. That is the standard.

ALSO READ: Heads to roll as FG investigates over 200 tax fraud tips

“We want to prevent the public from the danger of collapsed buildings that are taking place everywhere in the country. I have to lead senior members of the government to carry out this demolition. Even the Speaker is here. Our government is united on this.”

The governor vowed to recover all government lands, including lands that had been forcibly taken away by people who thought they were more powerful than the state.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/ajimobi-deserves-third-term-%e2%80%95olubadan/