Abuse of town planning laws increases disasters – NEMA
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Mohammad Sidi, has said that building collapse, flooding and illegal mining are some of the consequences arising from lack of proper implementation and enforcement of building and planning laws in Nigeria.
He stated that the abuse and distortion of building and town planning regulations, such as building or farming on water ways, erecting toxic and dangerous structures or carrying out dangerous activities near residential buildings increased the impact of disasters.
Sidi, who was represented by the Zonal Coordinator, Minna Operations Office, NEMA, Mr. Slaku Bijimi, stated this during NEMA’s workshop on ‘Better implementation and enforcement of law for safer cities,’ in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
He stated that the recurring cases of building collapse, building along or close to water courses, environmental degradation resulting from either flood or illegal mining among others in Nigerian cities called for a rethink.
He said there should be better implementation/enforcement of laws such as building codes and regulation, planning and environmental laws to mitigate disasters.
Sidi said, “The world is witnessing a rapid increasing impact of disasters caused by the combination of natural hazards and vulnerability, which constantly threaten people’s lives and sources of livelihood.
“Town planning, building and environmental management lawmakers should be sensitised on the importance of disasters and most of the existing laws need to be reviewed to suit the changing trend in urbanisation, development and civilisation.
“This cannot be left in the hands of the government alone; communities, private sectors, non-governmental organisations and individuals must join hands to know and implement them for safer cities.”
The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the abuse and distortion of building and town planning regulations such as building or farming on water ways, erecting toxic and dangerous structures or carrying out awkward activities near human habitations would aggravate the impact of disasters.
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