In a bid to clear the misunderstanding and the public outcry over the demolition of some parts of Yinka Ayefele's Music House, the Oyo State Government held a Press Conference today, Monday, August 20, 2018 at the Film Theatre, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism by 12.00pm.
The government in a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun said that the state government observed that property owners in the state are deviating from the originally approved building plans without seeking physical planning approvals from the Oyo State Bureau of Physical Planning and Development Control.
Toye explained that the demolition notice to Music House, Fresh Fm 105.9, Ibadan was not based on sentiments or witch-hunting, saying that contravention notices were served to different organizations in the state since June 14, 2017 including all radio stations in the state.
He added that due to circular roads development by the Government, properties of individuals, institutions and companies have been destroyed for the purpose of development that nobody is above the law.
Also, the Director General of Oyo State Bureau of Physical Planning and Development Control, Alhaji Waheed Gbadamosi, in his response stated that in 2017 after the creation of the Bureau that he had to correct certain lapses by writing letters to media houses requesting for their building plans approval.
Gbadamosi stated that the decision of the state government to demand for the building approved plan was not peculiar to Music House (Fresh FM) as several companies and institutions such as University of Ibadan, Koladaisi University, University College Hospital, banks and radio stations in the state were asked to provide their Planning approval saying that some of them responded to regularize their building plan.
The DG added that a letter was written to the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) complaining about the Physical Planning Laws that are not being adhered to by media houses in the state and on 4th December, 2017, NBC responded that the issue was not under their mandate.
He said that Music House brought a building plan and they paid a visit to the building site and during the joint inspection on 25th June, 2018 it was observed that the site measurement was not in order with the measurement demanded by the State Government.
He said the building encroached to the main road and that in the building plan submitted by music house there was no approval granted for kitchen, canteen, toilets, powerhouse and masts and even the pavement was converted to an event centre.
According to the DG, on 29th June 2018 a letter was sent to Music House to come for questioning but they ignored it.
He said that Music House has violated the Physical Planning Laws of Oyo state and “if the contravener do not want to comply, you make him know that the law is there”.