1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Development control is a function that regulates land-use and development to ensure that all land-use and development takes place at an appropriate time and place in a form or manner that conforms to a predetermined set of policies or standards. Development control set out the planning scheme and seeks to maintain those standards. It is not about stopping development in layout or to make it difficult for developers or builders, instead, its primary purpose is to ensure the orderly maintenance of standards and rational development of land to create sustainable human settlements that accommodated variety of land-uses to meet the needs of the people who live in these settlements.
The history of development control was traced back to the earliest time when emirs, Obas, and the Chiefs in the northern, western and eastern Nigeria respectively were acting as administrators and trustees of land which belongs to the community. Any form of development that takes place on the land was subject to approval by them. They levy taxes on those to whom land were given before development takes place. These measures were taken to ensure proper utilization of land, but with the promulgation of the Land Use Act in 1978, new laws governing the use of land were created. The Act vested all land in the country in the hand of the State governors to hold in trust for all authorities were established for granting of right of occupancy to land and control of development of such land granted.
Development control is one of the measures of physical planning agencies particularly local planning authorities to ensure that developers do not deviate from building plans approval for them in the course of implementation (construction). The Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act stipulates that the commission, the board and authorities shall establish development control departments to help ensure the maintenance of standards, which shall be multi-disciplinary and charged with the responsibilities for matters relating to development control measures in the physical environmental balancing, series of factors still hinders its effectiveness. This study tries to examine the problems of development control activities particularly during new housing construction and usage of already constructed buildings.
Enugu North is the study area. This study seeks to examine development control activities in Enugu North as in the existing buildings that are in use and in the case of new construction.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
There are recorded cases of operational overlap manifesting which allows for loopholes in development control activities. The responsibility of government and state holders at all levels has been streamlined. The Enugu state government have initiated a more harmonize activities of Ministry of Physical Planning and Development, the Enugu State Urban and Regional Planning, (ESURP), the Enugu State Waste Management Agency, (ESWAMA) and the Ministry of Environment regarding enforcement, administration, approval of building plans and documents and demolition of illegal structures. There may be other lapses that are not related to these aforementioned which involve operational mechanisms that inhibit development control.
Findings in the past have showed that different ministries or agencies had granted approval for development without input from other relevant ministries or agencies. This development has jeopardized effort of government at promoting a healthy environment. For certain decision to attain a desired result, it will be necessary to take advantage of the law in expressing it. Many of our settlements did not have a master plan and where such exist it has not been fully operational. Regulations and control exist in the form of laws and powers granted to public officials. When democratic government is operational, laws and public power comes into being when proved essential to public interest. Making the law and instituting public power and effecting changes takes time.
The application of law in form of regulation can further be exercised in other areas which include conservation and upgrading slum repairs, peculiar sites control, new development and general overview of current and future architectural and planning steps.
1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
AIM: The aim of this study is to examine the development activities in Enugu North, Enugu state.
OBJECTIVES:
- To determine the extent of changes or alteration in the structures of the study area.
- To make suggestions on how to guard against unapproved changes in building designs and use, contrary to original approvals.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- What is the extent of changes or alteration been made to the structure in study area?
- What suggestions should be made to guard against unapproved change in the building designs and use, contrary to original?
1.5 SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH
The study area is Enugu North. The study seeks to examine the problems associated with development control in the existing buildings, the need for maintenance to improve and create sustainable human settlement that accommodate the influx populations. The limitation could be inadequate workforce, equipment to cover the entire place in terms of vehicle, and political influence.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will help guard against unapproved change or alteration of the planning standards set for development in Enugu North. It will also help to maintain the development control activities standards and also, it will serve as reference to department of planning development authority. It could also help other developed area in Enugu state, such as Enugu East, South and West.
1.7 THE STUDY AREA
Enugu North is a local government area (fig 3) of Enugu state (fig 2) southeastern Nigeria (fig1). Enugu North has an estimated population of 244,852 as at 2006 census. It is bounded in the East by Enugu East Local Government with Nkwo-Nike as its headquarters, in the South by Enugu South with Uwani as its headquarters, in the West by Udi local Government with Udi as its headquarters and South west by Nkanu West Local Government with Agbani as its headquarters.
Enugu North derives its name from the capital city, “Enugu (top of hill). Its geographical coordinates are, 6⁰28ꞋN 7⁰31ꞋE/ 6.467⁰N 7.517⁰E. Enugu North is the major commercial center in Enugu state eastern Nigeria housing one-third of the financial institution, the popular Ogbete main market, as well as private establishments, and also being the heartbeat of the state.
Enugu North happens to experience rapid growth in development due to the discovery of coal in 1909 by the British geological team, thus causing widespread of developments in commerce, industries and residential. Development control helps regulating such development.
