The Plateau State government has asked people seeking to build houses or filling stations anywhere in the state to first obtain due approval before commencing work.

It would be recalled that peace was threatened in Jos, the state capital, recently when demolition of structures which the government marked as illegal caused revolt by owners of such structures.

The state’s Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development, Engr Solomon Maren, in a statement yesterday said, “Following the reactions of the general public on activities of the Task Force on City Renewal, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development hereby wishes to notify and warn the general public on the need to first of all register and get approval(s) for all kinds of buildings or structures to be erected from the Jos Metropolitan Development Board and the Ministry of Land, Survey and Town Planning before embarking on such construction(s).”

The statement said the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has noted with concern the ‘indiscriminate’ setting up of filling stations within Jos/Bukuru metropolis and other urban towns without due authorisation from the relevant agencies, and described such practice as illegal and against the implementation of the  Jos master plan.

“We solicit the cooperation of the general public in ensuring that proper approvals and statutory titles on lands are obtained before embarking on such developments,” the statement added.