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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has advised residents of the state capital, Yenagoa, and its environs, state 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, Hon Kuroakegha Dorgu, also warned that those that fail to comply and obtain genuine permit will be dragged before the Physical Planning and Development Tribunal for adjunction.
Hon Dorgu, who made gave the advice during a call on him by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly Committee on Physical Planning and Development, led by Hon. EbiziI Ndiomu-Brown, as part of their oversight function, emphasized the need for government ministries and agencies to always obtain building permit from the board before embarking on any project in the state.
According to the chairman, agencies of the Federal Government always comply whenever they want to carry out any building project in the state, adding that the same is expected of state owned ministries and agencies.
Hon. Dorgu noted that the law establishing the board does not exempt any one, adding that any ministry or agency that does not comply, will be taken to the Physical Planning and Development Tribunal for adjunction.
The executive chairman also said that plans are underway to carry out urban renewal in some areas in the city of Yenagoa. He said that the Physical Planning and Development Board is the only agency of government that is saddled with the responsibility of planning the state aside controlling development, stressing that with the proclamation of new planning areas by the governor of the state, Senator Douye Diri, plans will soon be designed for those area for development.
He also informed that the state government has also declared the Outer Ring Road, spanning from the AIT roundabout up until Igbogene as the Greater Yenagoa City, adding that plans have reached an advanced stage to enlighten the communities within the corridors of the area in question.
On the challenges faced by the board, Hon. Dorgu informed the committee that the board lacks operational vehicles, shortage of manpower needs amongst others. In all, the executive chairman appealed to the House committee to collaborate with the board to achieve its desired goals.
Earlier, chairmam of the State House of Assembly House Committee on Physical Planning and Development, Hon. EbiziI Ndiomu-Brown, hinted that the visit was to familiarize with the board, to know their activities as well as challenges and ways to collaborate with the board. She assured the board that they are going to collaborate with the board for effective delivery of its mandate.
