From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Plateau State Government has demolished illegal structures built along waterways in order to avoid flooding as the rainy season sets in.
Officials of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), led by the General Manager, Engr. Hart Bonkat, carried out the demolitions.
Bonkat, in company with the Director General, Plateau State Environmental Protection Agency, Samuel Daripa and the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Musa Ashoms, toured round the Jos metropolis to identify such structures and mark them for demolition.
The Federal Government had written to at least 31 state governors informing them of the impending flooding in their states between April and November this year.
The exercise, according to Bonkat, was part of measures to prevent the perennial flooding caused by uncontrolled building of structures along canal, bridges and
Bonkat, who spoke to newsmen at the end of the exercise, said that the demolition would be continuous and warned those in the habit of violating building laws to desist from such.
He appealed to residents who wish to construct any structure to approach the board for inspection and approval as the state government is ready to approve any building that pass necessary specifications.
Also speaking, Ashoms said that the demolition was to serve as a warning to residents, stressing that anyone that contravened building laws would have themselves to blame.
“This is a law-abiding government. We listen to our people and our people must also listen to us by obeying the law of the land. This is not punitive but a way of cautioning people. When flooding happens, we are collective losers even though it’s just few people that caused it,” he said.
Ashoms pointed out that government is doing its best in remodelling the state and will not hesitate to deal with offenders of the law.