The Chairman Caretaker Committee of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area Evans Bipi has ordered the immediate stoppage of the construction of a Multi-purpose Townhall in Ogu over failure by the developer to seek the consent of the Council before initiating the project.
According to Chief Press Secretary of the Council – Emeka Kalu the project was reportedly attracted to the area by the Executive Director of Finance and Administration (EDFA) of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC Boma Iyaye.
Speaking to newsmen during an on-the-spot-visit to the project site Evans Bipi said the building plan violates the development masterplan of the area.
The Ogu/Bolo CTC Chairman while commending the EDFA of NDDC for attracting such project to the area said it was sited at the wrong location.
He said the developer ought to have consulted with the Local Government Council to be given a suitable location for the project in order not to distort the development plan of the area.
Evans Bipi explained that the site of the project is a green area reserved for recreational purposes and not for project like a Multi-purpose Townhall.
He said, “This Land belongs to the Community, as the CTC Chairman of the Local Government Area, I am the Chief Security Officer, all Lands are in my custody in trust for the people according to the Local Government bye-law that regulates customary Land”.
“It is the only Land we have in this New Layout and in this new sandfield area which is fast developing, we don’t have any other playground. In the development masterplan of the Local Government this area is a green area, it is an open space for recreational purposes”
“As the Chief Security Officer of the Local Government, I am not in the know of the project; I am not also in the know of the site of the project”
“Given the nature of the project, this Land is not suitable for it”
He stated that Evans Bipi also said the Local Government Council is open to discussion with the developer to move the project to the right location in accordance with the development master plan of the area.
Bipi said he will not allow a project that is supposed to bring joy to the people to cause crisis in the Community.
“They should come, we can dialogue, we can sit down in a round table and talk on where this project can be suitably sited but certainly not in this very Land, so please tell to avoid this Land for now pending when we resolve this issue”
“The Council has resolved to relocate the project to a better site so that it can truly serve its purpose”.
“This Land is not suitable for such project, it is a Multi-purpose Hall, it is a good thing, we can have more than three Multi-purpose Town Halls, we don’t have any issue with that but the matter in contest is the Land in question”.
“The site is not the proper site for the project and we will not allow a project that is supposed to bring joy to the people to cause crisis in the Community, I came here to maintain peace and harmony”.
