- Safiu Kehinde
The Ogun State Government has extended the documents submission deadline given to former governor of the state, Gbenga Daniel, and other property owners affected by the ongoing audit exercises.
NPO Reported that Daniel had last week raised alarm over alleged threat by the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration to demolish his residence and hotels.
While the state government had since denied the threat, it however admitted that the ex-governor’s properties were among those sealed under audit exercise.
The state government had charged Daniel and other affected owners to present documents of their properties.
As against the initial three-day deadline, the state’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olatunji Odunlami, in a statement issued on Wednesday, extended the deadline by two weeks.
Odunlami however reiterated that the physical development audit exercise currently taking place in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, and elsewhere across the State is not a witch hunt of any individual or organization.
The statement read; “The Ogun State Government has extended the deadline for property owners/occupiers affected by the ongoing audit exercises to submit their title documents by two weeks.
“This extension is aimed at giving property owners and developers more time to either present their planning permits or approach the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and its agencies to regularize their unapproved developments.
“This extension demonstrates the goodwill of the State Government in response to representations made by a cross-section of the affected property owners both in Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode and reflects its commitment to the rule of law and transparency.
“The government emphasizes that this magnanimity does not derogate whatsoever from its constitutional and statutory actions already carried out on the matter.
“The government again reiterates that the physical development audit exercise currently taking place in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, and elsewhere across the State is not a witch hunt of any individual or organization, but a continuous effort towards ensuring sustainable urban development across the state.”