By Adamu Abubakar Kumo and Saeed Ahmad Bappah, Gombe
The Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority (GOSUPDA) has issued a two-day ultimatum to businesses operating on right-of-ways along the Tumfure Site of the Gombe-Bauchi Road.
This action follows a directive from Governor Inuwa Yahaya aimed at ensuring compliance with urban planning regulations and maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the state capital.
During a special development control exercise, the Executive Chairman of GOSUPDA, Alh. Bappayo Samanja Maido, expressed his dissatisfaction with the level of compliance among businesses operating within road reserves, emphasizing that such encroachments not only obstruct traffic flow but also pose safety and aesthetic concerns.
“His Excellency has issued a directive that all kiosks and other businesses operating on right-of-ways be evacuated,” Alh. Maudo stated. “We will be serving final notices to all affected businesses on Monday, informing them that their structures will be removed if they fail to comply.”
Furthermore, the GOSUPDA team conducted unannounced inspections of several establishments in the Bogo/BCGA area, including ABD Rent House, Boda Guest House, Inland Lodge, and Rocket Hotel. These inspections revealed a disturbing trend of illegal activities, with many residential properties being illegally converted into hotels and guest houses where illicit activities were suspected to be taking place.
“Most of these places operate without the necessary permits,” Alh. Maido noted. “They were originally residential properties that have been illegally converted into lodging facilities, where illicit activities are suspected to be taking place.”
He assured the public that these operations are in direct contravention of Governor Inuwa’s directive against illegal “gala” activities in the state.
The GOSUPDA team issued “Keep off” notices to the sites of the recently demolished structures, informing the public that these structures had been demolished because they were built on government land. This action affected properties such as Amdaku Lodge in BCGA and IDG Hotel in Lafiyawo, near Progress Radio.
At the Bogo Primary Healthcare Center, where construction of additional facilities was underway, the GOSUPDA Chairman emphasized the importance of obtaining necessary approvals from the Authority.
He instructed the site engineer that despite the government ownership of the land, all construction activities must adhere to the required building regulations and obtain the necessary permits from GOSUPDA.
In the Kanoyel area of BCGA, the team addressed a land dispute complaint. Notices were issued to the parties involved, inviting them to the GOSUPDA office for further discussions and resolution of the matter.
In Gandu, the team marked for removal illegal extensions to an existing building. These extensions encroached on the right-of-ways, posing a risk to public safety and convenience.
The extensions also posed a significant environmental hazard by encroaching on water pipelines, potentially contaminating them with sewage from gutters and toilets.
A parcel of land along Tashan Dukku Road opposite the Federal College of Education was inspected for a proposed minor gas plant. This inspection will enable the Authority to conduct a thorough assessment and determine the feasibility and safety of the proposed project.
At G-Connet, in BAP 4 behind the Ministry of Women Affairs, where a “first stop notice” had already been issued for unauthorized expansion work, the owner of the building assured the Authority that they would comply with all regulations and submit the necessary documentation. A second stop notice was issued to ensure adherence to the directives.
The inspection concluded at Gombe City Gate, where the team observed that some of the iron fences and decorative aluminum claddings on the facades of the structures had been vandalized and stolen. The Executive Chairman assured the public that necessary actions would be taken to address this issue.
The team also addressed other issues, including the inspection of a land dispute at the front of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church in Herwagana, near the Gombe Main Market, and an ongoing building project near the railway line in Malam Inna within the Gombe Metropolis.