PAYMENT OF ASSESSMENT FEE, NOT BUILDING PERMIT , PLANNING MINISTRY CLARIFIES.(PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE

 Payment of Assessment Fee, not Building Permit , Planning Ministry Clarifies.

By Ruth Orji

The Anambra State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has  clarified developers  that payment of an assessment fee does not automatically confer approval or grant a development permit.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barr. Chijioke Ojukwu, stated this in a statement issued on August 24.

According to the Commissioner, many developers mistakenly assume that payment of the assessment fee amounts to the approval of their building plans or the issuance of a development permit.

He explained that Section 19 of the Physical Planning Regulations clearly states that payment of an assessment fee does not amount to the grant of a building permit, as the fee is strictly an application fee.

Barr. Ojukwu further noted that the Ministry's Legal Department may raise administrative queries where proposed building plans violate the approved building coverage area or where the required  certification from COREN-registered engineers or ARCON-registered architects is lacking.

He said these and other regulatory deficiencies may form the basis for administrative queries, reiterating that payment of an assessment fee does not constitute approval to commence or continue any development.