Ondo Commences Demolition of Illegal Structures to Curb Flooding

​The Ondo State Government has initiated a decisive enforcement operation targeting structures blocking natural waterways, launching the state-wide exercise with the demolition of illegal developments in Akure to mitigate recurrent flooding.

​The initiative, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical and Ecological Control, commenced along the Oyemekun corridor in the state capital. The opening phase saw the targeted removal of the perimeter fence belonging to Christ Embassy Church, which officials identified as a critical bottleneck obstructing a major drainage channel and restricting natural water flow.

​Immediately following the demolition, engineering teams deployed heavy machinery to commence comprehensive dredging of the cleared drainage channels, aiming to restore hydraulic capacity and safeguard surrounding communities from seasonal inundation.

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​Addressing journalists at the site, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Technical and Ecological Control, Engr. Ebijimi Ayoleyi, emphasized that the action followed exhaustive administrative procedures. According to him, property owners culpable of environmental infractions had been served multiple statutory notices over an extended period but deliberately failed to comply.

​”We are prioritizing public safety above individual interests,” Engr. Ayoleyi stated. “Any structure discovered to be impeding natural waterways will face immediate removal without exception.” He further disclosed that the demolition campaign would systematically extend to Ondo town and other vulnerable, flood-prone municipalities across the state.

​Echoing these sentiments, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Town Planner Abimbola Tofowomo, decried the proliferation of unauthorized constructions across the state. He warned that unregulated building practices severely compromise public infrastructure and exacerbate ecological hazards, signaling a zero-tolerance approach toward urban planning violations moving forward.