By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

In a bid to enforce urban planning regulations and enhance development in Akure, the Ondo State Government has commenced the demolition of illegal shops, kiosks, and shanties erected along major roads in the state capital.

The exercise, which also saw the removal of structures within the four designated off-street motor parks, was aimed at easing traffic congestion and providing organised parking spaces for motorists within the metropolis.

The demolition operation was carried out by the Monitoring and Enforcement team of the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, in collaboration with a special task force constituted by the government to rid major towns of unauthorised structures.

The enforcement team covered key locations such as ShopRite, NEPA area, Arakale, Alagbaka, First Bank, Fiwasaye Grammar School area, and Oba Adesida Road, as well as the four off-street motor parks situated at NEPA Roundabout, Arakale beside Sammy Store, Adedeji Market, and Isinkan Roundabout.

Speaking on the exercise, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Chief Bunmi Alade, lamented the rising trend of indiscriminate construction of illegal structures in major cities without necessary approvals. He emphasised that such actions contravened the government’s urban renewal policy and modern physical planning agenda.

Chief Alade reiterated that the state government is committed to constructing neighbourhood markets across various communities to ease trading activities while maintaining off-street motor parks to improve traffic flow and ensure safety for motorists.

He warned owners of illegal structures across the state to voluntarily remove them before the ministry’s enforcement team reaches their areas, stressing that the government remains resolute in implementing its directive to sanitise the urban environment.

Also speaking, the Director of the Monitoring and Enforcement Department, Akindele Ogundipe, who led the enforcement operation, stated that none of the affected property owners had obtained the required approvals before erecting their structures in unauthorised locations. He added that multiple notices had been served to them without compliance, necessitating the demolition exercise.