By Marie-Therese Nanlong

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang has issued an Executive Order to control building and vehicular traffic in the State hence anyone found flouting the Order would be sanctioned.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, and the General Manager of Jos Metropolitan Development Board, Hart Bankat who disclosed the contents of the Order at a press conference in Jos on Tuesday said such would check the indiscriminate manner in which buildings are being erected and traffic abysmally controlled.

Disclosing the document, Bankat said the Governor issued “Executive Order No. 003, 2024 to control building and vehicular traffic in Plateau State. Pursuant to Section 5(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the Governor makes the following Executive Order:

“Whereas in consideration of the indiscriminate manner in which buildings are being erected and traffic control abysmally degenerate within the Greater Jos Masterplan and the prevalence of building collapse, the Government of Plateau State deems it necessary to control the manner of construction of buildings and ensure effective traffic control in the State.

“And whereas indiscriminate use and parking of vehicles within the Greater Jos Masterplan has hampered free vehicular movement and posed a security threat to the citizenry, the Government considers it necessary to sanitize the traffic sector in the State for security and ease of transportation.

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“Now therefore, I Order as thus: The rates for processing fees and building plans fees shall henceforth be reviewed annually based on the zones; Erecting a building without first obtaining approval is hereby prohibited, and violators shall be liable to pay 50% of the estimated value of such building.”

He added, “Owners of demolished buildings shall be made to bear the cost of such demolitions; Forensics shall be conducted on any building within the Greater Jos Master Plan that collapses due to structural defect if it is found to be due to the carelessness of the Developer/Owner or boycott of due processes, such a site shall be taken over by the Government.

“Owners of buildings without approvals that are condonable within the Greater Jos Master Plan who have not regularized the same within the time given shall be liable to a fine not less than N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira only) for failure to obtain the approval within the stipulated period.

“Traders doing business on sites not designated for such shall cease immediately, anyone in default shall have their items confiscated and the same donated to the Internally Displaced Persons Camp or the Correctional Centres.

“Pasting of posters on public infrastructure is prohibited forthwith and violators shall be liable to pay the sum of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only).

“Indiscriminate parking of trucks, heavy-duty equipment, and other vehicles within the metropolis is prohibited and vehicles so parked shall be impounded and the drivers of the same shall be liable to pay a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only) as penalty.”

The Order also states that “trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles are hereby restricted from coming into the Central Business Area (Jos-Bukuru Metropolis) from the hours of 6 am to 9 pm, vehicles of defaulters shall be impounded and the drivers of same shall be liable to pay a fine of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira only).

“Stray animals within the metropolis are hereby prohibited and such stray animals if found, shall be forfeited to the Government or the owners shall be liable to pay a fine of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only).

“The effective date of the Order shall in the case of the control of buildings, be the 10th day of June 2024; in the case of vehicular traffic, be the 19th day of March 2024; have a life span of 90 days from the date of its commencement in each case, subject to renewal.”

Vanguard Newspaper