By Aichienede Akhabue Goodluck
The Edo State Government has renewed its commitment to building a sustainable and orderly society that protects the lives and property of residents of the State while encouraging socio-economic activities, particularly owners of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to carry on with their businesses in line with the Benin City Master Plan.
The assertion was made by the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development (MPPHURD), Ms. Isoken Omo, during a workshop on the Benin City Master Plan for owners of hotels, clubs, lounges, bars and event centers at the Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City.
The event according to the Commissioner is a follow-up to similar engagements the Ministry has had with other stakeholders such as traditional and community leaders, real estate developers, religious leaders and professionals in the building industry as well as relevant government agencies.
The Commissioner described the hospitality business as the heartbeat of the city, given the upsurge and explosion in the number of nightclubs, lounges, hotels, bars and event centers in the State.
She noted that the Benin City Master Plan was designed to guide against urban sprawl and ensure the regeneration of the State for the next 30 years, stressing that this would help to preserve the urban area and make the State habitable for living and doing business.
She, however, noted that recent activities in the hospitality sector in the State were disturbing as a recent survey carried out by the Ministry on the Ihama, Boundary and Country Home roads showed high levels of noise pollution, traffic congestion and anti-social activities.
According to Ms. Omo, most of the hospitality facilities along the aforementioned routes and other parts of the city, do not have the right approvals as areas designated for residential purposes have been converted to commercial use.
She noted that this in essence has also constituted grave noise pollution with outrageous noise decibels as high as 76 to 99%, which is against the acceptable 45 to 70% decibels, as reported in the survey.
She further revealed that traffic congestion in most parts of the State has become a nightmare, as most of these hospitality centers lacked adequate parking lots for their clients, and frowned at the indiscriminate construction of some events centers without recourse to property setbacks for their facility.
She vowed that such illegality will not be allowed to continue in the State.
Responding to questions from the participants, the Commissioner reiterated that the State Government will continue to sustain the stakeholders’ engagements while providing the needed technology that will fast-track planning and approval processes which will enhance effective and efficient service delivery to the people.
She advised players in the hospitality sector of the State to employ building elements such as proper soundproofing, use of gypsum doors, Plaster of Paris (POP) ceiling, double glazing of their windows and soft non-reflective furniture as excellent sound insulators for their facility, adding that they can perform their businesses without disturbing others.
The Commissioner highlighted further action points on the Boundary, Ihama and Country Home axis to include the rehabilitation of the roads with water collection points for flash flood control as well as the re-establishment of road dividers on Country Home Road.
Participants at the event commended the State Government in its quest to re-engineer the city and State in conformity with the Benin City Master plan while pledging their support to ensure that their facilities conforms with the acceptable standards with regard to approvals, noise control measures, traffic and parking lots.
They advised the State Government to extend the sensitization campaign to markets, schools, churches, mosques and other centers, just as they appealed for an extension of the grace period before enforcement of compliance commences.
The event had in attendance owners and managers of hospitality ventures, the Acting Permanent Secretary, MPPHURD, Austin J.E Remison; Director, Enforcement and Development Control in the Ministry, Mr. Henry Enabulele; and other members of staff of the Ministry.
