The Executive Chairman, Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei has emphasized the need for land developers in the state to always approach the Board to obtain the necessary permits before embarking on any development project in the state.
According to him, this will enable the Board accord such developers the needed guidance as they execute their projects in line with stipulated standards.
Alabo Ekeuwei stated this when the leadership of the Bayelsa State Hotel Owners Association paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Yenagoa
According to him, no land developer is allowed to embark on any building project without a Plan Approval Permit, issued by the Bayelsa State Physical Planning Board.
According to the chairman, “the stages involved while developing a project are the Planning stage, Plan Approval stage, the Project Implementation stage, which involves the supervision of the project by the Board and the Building Permit/ Certification stage. This is when a certificate is issued when the project is completed”.
Alabo Ekeuwei informed the leadership of the Hotel Owners Association that the Certificate of Completion when issued by the Board, will subsist for a period of 50 years before renewal.Â
He assured them that the consultant of the Board that is assigned with the responsibility, is only doing what is called “Vetting” as most hotels in the state did not pass through those stages.
According to him, the exercise is only to obtain information about the structure of their hotels and carry out Integrity Test, where necessary, and urged them to work with the Board’s Consultant, that served them the notices.
He further advised property owners that in the event of their wishing to construct additional floors to their structures, they should approach the board for another approval.Â
He assured the hotel owners that what the Board is doing is in their own interest, pointing out that the Board is not out to witch-hunt them or create encumbrances to their businesses.
Earlier, the Chairman, Bayelsa State Hotel Owners Association, Chief Quickpenny Oseke, informed the Board that some hotel owners have been summoned to face the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Tribunal by the Board without adequate information.
He said most of them are not aware of the reasons why the Board was dragging them to the Tribunal, hence, the reason for the courtesy visit, to seek clarification.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Association, Dr. Allen Wasini, appreciated the chairman for giving them a listening ear, pointing out that with the explanation of the chairman, they were better enlightened and satisfied.
He noted that the present leadership of the Bayelsa State Physical Planning and Development Board was here to solve problems and not to create them, assuring that, they will accord the Board the needed corporation to carry out its activities in the state..Â
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