‘Delay In Building Approval ’ll Promote Illegal Development’
2 min read
The Zonal Town Planning Officers in Ogun State government agencies have been charged to avoid delay in the process of granting building approvals, as this will lead to illegal and haphazard development that often possess a threat to lives and property in the long run.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, TPL Olatunji Odunlami gave the charge at a 2-day training, organised by the Ogun State Planning and Development Authority (OGPDPA), for the newly posted Zonal Town Planning Officers across the State.
According to him, “simple applications should not exceed seven days provided the applicant provides all necessary documents upfront, planning information should also be obtained within 7 days, while special applications should not exceed 14 days, hence the deployment of the 7-7-14 Permit Process.
“The 7-7-14 Permit Process has eased the bottlenecks associated with obtaining approval in the State. At the inception of this administration, simple applications take a minimum of two months’’.
The Commissioner further highlighted that the role of the Ministry and its agencies has designed sustainable and functional residential, commercial and industrial spaces that would serve the generations yet unborn, calling on them to be alive to their responsibilities at ensuring effective physical planning and urban development decisions.
The Commissioner said, “If you approve buildings and developments where the law and building regulations of the Authority are not complied with, you are creating problems for the future. In a decade or two, will you be able to look back with pride at areas where you approved the developments for? The answer to that question starts from the decisions you make today’’.
In his presentation, the Acting General Manager, OGPDPA, TPL. Idowu James took the participants through the step-to-step process for obtaining building approvals in both simple and special applications, charging the Officers and their deputies to always be cordial, helpful and professional in their conduct at work.
Earlier in her address, the Head of Department, Planning Permit, TPL. Olugbemisola Jolaoluwa, said the training was important for staffers to understand the processes for the efficient performance of their statutory duties, advising the participants to take advantage of the exercise.
Other lectures delivered at the training include, Filling of Application Forms, Review of the Regulation of the Authority, Filling of Statutory Notices, and Writing of Weekly and Monthly Reports.
