The Abia State Government has revoked the building permit issued for Trademore Housing Estate, Ubani, Umuahia, following the discovery of several planning and regulatory violations.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held on Monday and presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu said the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA) carried out an inspection of the estate following complaints from residents concerning flooding and defective structures.

According to him, the inspection revealed several infractions by the developer, including discrepancies between the original building permit application and the scale of the development.

He explained that the developer had applied for a building permit covering only two structures — a semi-detached two-bedroom bungalow and a three-bedroom bungalow — but subsequently expanded the development into an entire estate.

Kanu also said the application did not contain several planning and regulatory documents considered necessary for the development.

These, he listed, included a survey plan, site plan, site analysis report, layout plan, environmental impact assessment report, evidence of payment of administrative fees, as well as technical inputs from relevant professionals and government agencies.

“Consequently, in view of the foregoing infractions, the building permit of that estate has been revoked. Further steps to address the issues arising from this unfortunate situation will be duly communicated to the press,” Kanu stated.

On the recurring flooding in parts of Umuahia, the commissioner disclosed that Governor Otti had directed the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee comprising the UCDA and the Ministries of Works, Environment and Lands.

The committee, he said, would develop a lasting solution to the flooding affecting Ogurube and Ehimiri layouts and has been given two weeks to submit its report.

Kanu said the state government remained committed to addressing the flooding problem through a coordinated intervention.

Meanwhile, he disclosed that nine additional returnees from South Africa had been received by the State Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection within the past two weeks.

The returnees comprised one adult male, three mothers, four children and one infant, all of whom, according to the commissioner, had been successfully reunited with their families.

He added that the state government was preparing to facilitate the return of about 100 more Abia indigenes from South Africa in the coming weeks, with documentation and other arrangements already being processed.

On healthcare, Kanu said the Abia State Government had paid N502.1 million as counterpart funding under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.

He said the payment would enable vulnerable residents to continue benefiting from the health insurance scheme for vulnerable persons.

The commissioner further disclosed that a Swedish organisation had attracted specialised medical equipment to Abia to support trauma-related procedures, including orthopaedic, brain and spine surgeries.