Jtimes
…As Gov Inuwa Yahaya threatens To Stop Road Projects Over Rights Of Way Encroachment
By Saeed Ahmad Bappah, Gombe
Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority (GOSUPDA) has reopened an access road blocked by an individual for personal use at Shongo Hamma in Tumfure.
The road which is an access to so many Houses has been blocked by one Chief Thaddeus Ebere for his business as he is running a bar called Blue Diamond which is adjacent to the said road he blocked.
At the end of the authority’s weekly routine exercise led by the Executive Chairman Alhaji Bappayo Samanja Mauɗo, the GOSUPDA boss instructed for the demolition and immediate reopening of the road for the benefit of the houses in the area as it serve as the only access route from the newly constructed road.
At the same time the chairman ordered for the arrest of Mr Thaddeus Ebere 70, and his 27 year old son Nnabuise Franklin for their resistance and trying to disarm a security personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps while on an official assignment. The duo are currently under security custody before taking them to court for trial.
The Chairman called on the attention of people of the state to report such illegality to GOSUPDA for appropriate actions as the authority will never allow such anywhere in the state. “People Should know that the public interest overrides personal interest anywhere anytime”, the chairman stressed.
Bappayo Mauɗo later toured many areas for inspection including the former BAP-4, now Shehu Abubakar District, GDP 16, Tumfure North & South road networks, GSM Markets in both pantami and old Gombe Line Terminus, amongst others where he terminated the inspection exercise at Tabra Western Byepass to settle another right of way encroachment dispute in company of Director General GOGIS.
The Chairman insisted that “All buildings must follow due process by submitting building plans and acquiring approval from GOSUPDA”.
The Executive Chairman appealed to people of the state across eleven local governments areas where new roads constructions are taking place to desist from encroaching on the right of ways particular in Kumo Town, the headquarters of Akko Local Government.
The chairman said it’s part of GOSUPDA mandate to demolish any structure that enchroaches on the right of way anywhere in the state.
He said the state governor has threatened to stop any projects where people enchroach on the rights of ways especially in Kumo for personal benefits instead of government purposes like the instalment of street lights and water pipes.
“His Excellency Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has said that henceforth he will not decorate any road with street lights, water pipes or tree planting where the right of ways are tempered with, or even cancelled and withdraw from the entire project from such areas particularly in Kumo town”.
The GOSUPDA boss also directed all kiosks and container owners operating from SAN-HUSSAIN Super Market at Gombe Old Market to Post Office in the main round about to exit the places as the authority will soon start clearance and nobody will be spared when the exercise began.
Mauɗo said the containers and kiosks were placed without any approval, and that equally forms part of the governor’s order to clear the road from welcome to Gombe to Liji Round About being part of the city center.
