The Anambra State Government has ruled out any extension of the deadline given to owners of illegal structures and shanties in Nnewi, insisting that affected individuals must comply with the two-week ultimatum already issued.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barr. Chijioke Ojukwu, made this known during a sensitization and enforcement exercise in Nnewi, stating that the action is part of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s urban renewal agenda aimed at restoring order, improving environmental safety, and promoting sustainable development across the state.
According to the commissioner, enforcement agencies will begin the removal of all identified illegal structures immediately after the expiration of the notice period, in line with existing physical planning laws and regulations.
Ojukwu urged residents, developers, and business owners to comply with government directives, emphasizing that the administration will not compromise on planning standards and environmental regulations.
He also announced plans to launch a statewide enforcement campaign tagged “Operation Show Your Physical Planning Permit,” designed to ensure compliance with approved building guidelines and curb unauthorized developments.
The commissioner noted that the increasing number of illegal structures has contributed to flooding, traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and security challenges in several urban centres across the state.
As part of the ongoing exercise, government officials continued the marking of non-compliant structures and issuance of demolition notices in key areas of Nnewi, including Nkwo Market, Akamili, Uruagu, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Permanent Site axis, and Eme Court Road.
He assured residents that the government’s “Operation Zero Shanties” initiative would be sustained to create cleaner, safer, and more investment-friendly cities throughout Anambra State.
