The Director-General Kaduna State Urban State Urban Planning Development Agency, Mr. Ismail Umaru Dikko, has given reasons for the demolition of Asher Lounge, the venue of the aborted Kaduna sex party.
Officials of the agency carried out the exercise penultimate Thursday.
The Public Relations Officer of the agency, Nuhu Garba, had said the property was pulled down in accordance with the laws guiding the agency over properties in the state.
However, on Tuesday, the DG while briefing journalists, said apart from violating COVID-19 regulations, the property had no building permit.
Umaru-Dikko, who gave details on the demolition, said indications that activity in violation of the COVID-19 regulations was planned to be held in Asher Lounge drew attention to the property and made it necessary to examine the status of the building.
The DG noted that a check on government records showed that the building housing Asher Lounge has neither a valid title nor development permit.
According to him, once revealed the illegal status of the building, there was need for enforcement action without the notification requirements that the law compels for holders of valid title and development permits.
The KASUPDA boss said, “On Thursday, 31st December 2020, the Kaduna State Urban Development and Planning Authority took action to remove the building housing Asher Lounge.
“Since this enforcement action, much of the commentary on the matter has centred on the inaccurate statement from KASUPDA’s Twitter account.
“While regretting the inaccuracy of the handler of our social media account, there is no reservation about the steps taken pursuant to enforce the laws and regulations of Kaduna State on a property that was in violation of its provisions.
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“Since 26th March 2020, the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Partial Lockdown Order, 2020 have been in force in Kaduna State. Although some of the regulations were significantly relaxed in June 2020, they were tightened again in December 2020 in response to the second wave of Covid-19 infections.
“Indications that an activity in violation of the Covid regulations was planned to be held in Asher Lounge drew attention to the property and made it necessary to examine the status of the building.
“Checks of government records showed that the building housing Asher Lounge has neither a valid title nor development permit.
“Once due diligence revealed the illegal status of the building, there was need for enforcement action without the notification requirements that the law compels for holders of valid title and development permits.
“The illegal status of the building became a very separate matter from the trigger event: the third-party elements who had planned and advertised an unlawful gathering on those premises.”
Punch
