The Ogun state government has confirmed the demolition of DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu Ode, owned by Olufunke Daniel, the wife of a former governor, Gbenga Daniel.
According to the state government on Sunday, September 10, the building “is an illegal structure without an approved plan.”
Also, in a statement earlier on Sunday, the Project Manager and developer, Engr Olusegun Lawal, described the move as a demolition by government officials.
As reported by Naija News, Lawal also claimed that the government issued a three-day notice before demolishing the structure.
According to him, “not enough parking space, inadequate muster point, and inadequate airspace” were the reasons given by the government for bringing down the building.
The developer argued that “There are no single structural defects on the building, and all relevant and necessary government approvals have been obtained.”
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Olayiwola Abiodun said in a statement that the structure contravened the state’s physical planning laws and as such, is illegal.
Abiodun noted that the structure violated the building codes of the state with numerous defects, adding that several efforts made by the state government to halt further development on site were ignored by the developers.
He said government officials requested the structural engineer in charge of the building to avail the state of the structural equilibrium of the building, a request that was ignored.
