Fresh facts have emerged that Reigners Bible Church International ignored ‘stop work’ warning from the Uyo Capital City Development Authority, UCCDA, and went ahead to erect the edifice.
The UCCDA was established by the Akwa Ibom State Edict 13 of 1988 and is vested with the responsibility of managing land within the capital city, designate sites for government and other projects, undertake public sensitisation, and organise stakeholders meetings, enforcement of and demolition illegal structures, among others.
A source at UCCDA, who preferred anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said the Church building was marked “Stop work” by men of UCCDA at foundation level sometimes in 2013.
He explained that the founder was asked to bring his building plan, structural design, environmental impact assessment EIA), and other relevant documents relating to the building for assessment, professional advice, supervision & approval, and was required to pay necessary levies to UCCDA on behalf of govt, and other regulatory body like the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), but he refused.
According to him, in 2014, men of UCCDA visited the site again with the ‘stop work’ order and requested the church to bring its drawing plan for assessment/approval given the topography of the land the church sits on, but Reigners Bible Church International ignored the order.
He said: “On 16th July 2014, UCCDA marked the place again, but the church building committee, and contractors, out of impunity and pride went ahead to construct the church, accusing the agency of fighting God. Pastor Akan Weeks used his connection in government to suppress UCCDA, and went ahead to raise such magnificent edifice without approval from UCCDA and other relevant agencies.”
No comments:
Post a Comment