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By Tracy Moses
The Chief Executive Officer of GreenSpring Homes Ltd, Jason Nyanin has expressed deep concern over what he described as the “short and unrealistic notice” given to estate developers in Edo State to regularise their operations or face sanctions.
While commending the government’s intention to sanitise the sector, Nyanin said that many developers, including reputable firms, were taken by surprise by the sudden ultimatum. He stressed that although the real estate industry fully supports the state’s urban renewal vision, the two-week deadline is too brief to address the structural and documentation challenges developers face.
“This is not about developers refusing to comply, far from it,” Nyanin lamented. “Most of us are willing to follow the law and align with the master plan. But the process of obtaining approvals is notoriously cumbersome. It often involves multiple layers of documentation, site inspections, and prolonged waiting periods. With such bureaucracy in place, two weeks is simply insufficient.”
He appealed passionately to the government to pair enforcement with administrative reforms that would make compliance more achievable. “We are not asking for leniency to break the law. What we are pleading for is a realistic timeline and a simplified, transparent process. If the Ministry can cut down on bureaucratic bottlenecks and introduce a single-window system for approvals, developers will respond positively and quickly,” he added. “Our collective goal is the same, sustainable, orderly development, but the process must also reflect practical realities.”
Nyanin’s concerns follow a statement issued on Friday by the Edo State Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, which gave a final two-week ultimatum to all estate developers to register and secure formal approvals for their estate layouts or face decisive enforcement actions. The directive, signed by the Functioning Permanent Secretary, Arc. Kate A. Isokpunwu, aligns with Governor Godwin Obaseki’s Project Shine initiative and the state’s 30-Year Benin City Master Plan aimed at achieving sustainable and orderly urban growth.
Isokpunwu, also speaking exclusively to Pointblanknews.com several hours after she issued the statement, described the move as “an unavoidable step to stop unregulated growth, protect environmental resources, and bring sanity to the real estate sector.”
“This is not about witch-hunting anyone,” she explained. “It is about safeguarding our state’s future. All estate layouts must be properly documented and regularised with the Ministry to align with Edo’s spatial and environmental objectives. We cannot continue to allow uncontrolled sprawl, land grabbing, or developments that violate forest reserves and master plan guidelines.”
She disclosed that from October 2025, a comprehensive enforcement operation will begin, targeting illegal developments, including sealing off unapproved estates and prosecuting offenders under state laws.
Meanwhile, one of the leading voices in the urban planning sector has applauded the state’s tough stance. Dr. Gabriel Omoregie, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (FNITP), described the government’s deadline as “long overdue,” urging authorities to remain firm despite expected pushback from powerful developers.
“In many parts of Benin City today, we are witnessing the dangerous consequences of unregulated estate development, flooding, traffic chaos, encroachment into forest reserves, and poor infrastructure delivery,” Omoregie said. “The state’s master plan will remain a mere document if developers are allowed to build without regulation. The government’s deadline is a bold and necessary step.”
He further noted that uncontrolled expansion has worsened environmental degradation, triggered frequent land disputes, and forced government agencies to spend billions to fix infrastructure gaps caused by illegal estates.
Other stakeholders, however, warned that non-compliance could result in massive financial losses for developers. “Some developers have invested heavily without knowing their layouts were not properly approved,” said Mrs. Ijeoma Akintola, a property lawyer. “There’s a need for the government to combine enforcement with sensitisation.”
Despite the concerns, the Ministry insists it will not back down. “We have zero tolerance for illegal construction, land grabbing, and distortion of the master plan,” Isokpunwu reaffirmed. “Developers must come forward immediately to regularise their projects. We will not allow a few lawless actors to jeopardise Edo’s future.”