The Anambra State Physical Planning Board has warned that henceforth, buildings without approval will be demolished while the builders of such structures will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Managing Director of the Board, Barr Chike Maduekwe gave the warning during an interactive session with newsmen in Awka on Wednesday.
He noted that the Board will be executing many policies in line with Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s mandate on the ease of doing business in the state.
“Going forward, We beg you to comply with the law. Last year, we won a grant of $3m from the World Bank because of our commitment to physical planning and deployment of broadband. Over 2000km of fibre optic have been deployed. This has helped people in no small measure, whether fibre to be taxed (FTTT) or fibre to the homes (FTTH).”
Having gotten a lot of backing from the Governor, Barr Maduekwe asked Ndi Anambra to continue cooporating with the Board, even as he appreciated majority of Ndi Anambra who on their own volition, came for approvals.
While congratulating Governor Soludo for his re-election victory on Nov 8, 2025, the Physical Planning Board helmsman however prayed God to grant him a successful second tenure to complete the plethora of projects he started for the overall wellbeing of Ndi Anambra.
Barr Maduekwe wished to have a Planning and Permit Authority and Building Control Agency in addition to already existing Urban Renewal/Regeneration Department to put Anambra as best among equals in Urban Planning in Nigeria.
“In the Governor’s Second Tenure, we will ensure that the law will be amended to reflect contemporary reality in Urban Development and Planning. One of the places we look up to, in terms of proactive planning, is Lagos State. And we may have the Planning and Permit Authority, which is pure planning. We will also hopefully have Building Control Agency to serve as purely engineering function to substantially help to mitigate building collapse.
“We also already have the Urban Renewal,(or Urban Regeneration). The combination of these will put Anambra as best among equal in Urban Planning in Nigeria.
“If it pleases Mr Governor, time has come for us to have a Ministry of Physical Planning to be at per with it’s contemporaries in other states,” Barr Maduekwe said.
He maintained that the Physical Planning Board under his watch has done well and had undergone series of metamorphosis including the introduction of Digital Portal for approval of Building Development Permit.
“Now that the election is over, we are about to launch the second phase of Operation Show Your Building Permit. What it means is that lots of people are building without permit, by December we’ll give another window for people to come and regularise their levies by applying for permits, during which they won’t pay a penalty. This will last till the end of February. Thereafter, non-compliance would attract a very stiff penalty.###
