Always Consult Us Before Building —ACTDA Boss, Okwuosa Urges Developers

By Izunna Okafor

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Ven. Barr. Amaechi Okwuosa has re-echoed the need for developers in Awka Metropolis and other areas covered by the Authority, to always consult and seek its services, before embarking on any building project.

The ACTDA Boss made the call while speaking with our Reporter in Awka, the capital city of Anambra State, during which he also frowned at the people who re-erect and transact businesses in previously destroyed illegal shanties situated under high tension wires and other unauthorized places across the Awka Metropolis.

According to him, every intending developer in any part of the 24 communities covered by ACTDA is expected to present his building plan, survey plan, evidence of land ownership as well as the site analysis to the Authority, in due consultation for its guidance, advisory, on-site visitation, inspection, testing, documentation and authorisation/approval services, before embarking on such projects.

He described the activities of some developers who build without a building plan as dangerous and precarious, even as he warned them to desist from such, as government will not overlook anyone who does such or erects a building without proper documentation and consultation.

He said, "The documentation and approval process is a very easy one, which, for now, takes about a week if you have all the documents ready. And we now have a portal in our website https://actda.ng/  where developers can now go online and do most of the documentation. But, we must visit the site, to see things for ourselves. And these have helped developers in a many great ways."

While noting that the professional services of ACTDA has helped to reduce the incidences of building collapse in the Awka Metropolis and other areas in the six local governments covered by the Authority, Ven. Okwuosa, a Barrister also beamed red light at the activities of some developers who are trying to 'cut corners', urging them to always follow the due process to the latter. 

"You don't cut corners when you are building within the Awka Capital Territory, because there are many reasons why you need to come for our approval, so that we will be able to look at the siting," he warned.

Continuing, he said, "There are certain buildings that may pass the requirements, but have problems with the siting, because there is what we call road setback. So before you site a building on a major road, there is a space that must be observed. 

"We have the same setback on waterways and on the high tension wires. And that is one of the reasons you need to consult us before building, so that we will be able to advise you earlier; because if your building infringes on these standards or goes against the requirements, during inspection, we will definitely remove it."

He then advised Ndi Anambra, especially developers within Awka  and its environ, to always consult ACTDA for documentation and approval before embarking on any building project, so as to avoid regret, and also help the government to put a perpetual stop to incidences of building collapse and other mishaps resulting from shoddy and unauthorized construction.

While reiterating the commitment of Authority to giving Awka the capital city a befitting outlook, and the milestone so far recorded in the regard; the ACTDA helmsman who recently paid an inspection visit the Awka Millennium City described the pace of work at the site as commendable and progressive.

He noted that, when completed, the Millennium City and other such estates springing up in the state, such as the Anambra Luxury Place Estate at Nkwelle-Ezunaka which will all be accommodating and affordable to people of various social status, will be comparable with other estates found overseas, in terms of amenities comfortability, and also contribute in solving the housing need of Ndi Anambra and the residents, being one of the major pursuits of the Governor Willie Obiano-led Administration in the state.

Established in pursuant to Awka Capital Development Authority Law, 2009, and Awka Capital Development Authority (Amendment) Law 2014, Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) is the regulatory body in charge of urban housing, real estate development including the operational plan, infrastructural development and facilities maintenance arrangement in the Awka Metropolis and (partly or wholly) in six (6) Local Government Areas in Anambra State, namely: Anaocha, Awka North, Awka South, Dunukofia, Njikoka and Orumba North.