Abia To Enforce Purpose Clause In Property Development

The Abia government has commenced the verification of compliance with the “purpose clause” in certificates of occupancy issued to property developers in the state.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Renewal, Mr Donatus Okorie, who announced the verification in Umuahia on Monday at a news conference, said the abuse of the purpose clause by property developers in the state called for urgent attention to halt distortions in the building of structures in urban areas.

“One area the ministry has a challenge is in the flagrant abuse and conversion of assigned uses in the certificates by some property owners without the consent of the government,” he said.

He said the chaos and confusion caused by the unwholesome practice had become embarrassing to the government and other responsible citizens, stating that a majority of developers failed to comply with the state’s urban and regional laws.

“The effect, as you can see for yourselves, is the growth of formless, seemingly unplanned and disorderly settlements, especially in the urban areas,” he said.

The commissioner said the ministry was determined to implement the provisions of the extant laws, in addition to the Land Use Act 2004 as well as other strategies to achieve sanity.

He said the purpose clause verification and authentication would further help to establish a database for all landed property in the state.

Okorie gave the assurance that the ministry would be fair and firm in carrying out the exercise, adding that there would be no sacred cows.

He said that a master plan for the development of Umuahia, Aba, Ohafia and other major towns and cities in the state was underway, adding that current development projects in Umuahia were being guided by the old master plan for the defunct Imo State, and professional advice by experts in the ministry.

Okorie promised that the new master plan would help to correct the existing anomaly, considering that the old document did not capture Umuahia as a state capital.