No Extension, No Excuses: Soludo Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal Structures in Nnewi

By Praise Chinecherem

Property owners in Nnewi have been put on notice as the Anambra State Government insists there will be no extension of the deadline for the removal of illegal structures and shanties across the commercial city.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barr. Chijioke Ojukwu, made this known during an ongoing sensitization and enforcement exercise, stressing that affected residents and business owners must comply with the two-week ultimatum already issued by the government.

According to Ojukwu, the exercise is part of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s urban renewal agenda aimed at restoring order, improving environmental safety, and promoting sustainable development across Anambra State.

He warned that once the deadline expires, government agencies will move in to remove all identified illegal structures and shanties in line with existing physical planning laws and regulations.

The Commissioner urged residents to take the notices seriously, emphasizing that the Soludo administration remains committed to enforcing planning standards without compromise.

Ojukwu also revealed plans to launch “Operation Show Your Physical Planning Permit,” a statewide compliance initiative designed to tackle unauthorized developments and ensure adherence to approved building regulations.

He noted that the unchecked spread of illegal structures has contributed significantly to flooding, traffic congestion, environmental degradation, and security challenges in major urban centres, including Nnewi.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to urban transformation, Ojukwu said the renewal drive is focused on creating cleaner, safer, and more investment-friendly cities, adding that similar interventions have already delivered positive outcomes in other parts of the state.

As part of the ongoing operation, officials continued marking non-compliant buildings and issuing removal notices in key locations, including Nkwo Market, Akamili, Uruagu, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Permanent Site axis, and Eme Court Road.

He further assured residents that “Operation Zero Shanties” will be sustained to curb encroachment and unsafe developments, while calling on the public to support the initiative for the overall development of the state.

“The deadline stands. There will be no extension,” the Commissioner reiterated.