The Anambra State Government has warned architects operating in the state to strictly comply with the Physical Planning Regulations, threatening sanctions and possible blacklisting for professionals who submit defective building plans.
The warning was contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barr. Chijioke Ojukwu, and addressed to the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Anambra State Chapter.
According to the ministry, a review by its Legal Review Department revealed that more than 200 building plans submitted for assessment failed to meet the requirements of the Anambra State Physical Planning Regulations, 2015.
The ministry disclosed that many of the building plans violated the mandatory setback provisions contained in Sections 10 and 11 of the regulations, while several others exceeded the approved land coverage by occupying more than 90 per cent of the available land, leaving no space for the required parking facilities.
It further observed that a number of the submissions lacked the mandatory site allocation requirements stipulated under Section 3(1) of the regulations, while others contained material misrepresentations that rendered them ineligible for approval.
The government urged architects to uphold the ethics of their profession by ensuring that all building plans comply with the state’s physical planning laws before submission.
It warned that any architect who submits non-compliant building plans for assessment would face appropriate sanctions, including possible blacklisting from professional practice in Anambra State.
The ministry said the move is aimed at strengthening compliance with planning regulations, promoting orderly urban development and ensuring safer, more sustainable physical infrastructure across the state.
