The Edo State Development and Building Control Agency has demolished over 500 illegal shanties in parts of Benin City as part of efforts to enforce building regulations and improve urban planning across the state.

The affected structures were located in the Ugbor and Etete areas of the Government Reservation Area in Benin City.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, the agency’s General Manager, Igabali Darlington, said the exercise forms part of a broader strategy to ensure compliance with approved building standards and promote safe, orderly physical development.

He explained that the enforcement action aligns with the state government’s SHINE agenda, particularly its focus on infrastructure and sustainable development.

According to him, the agency’s operations are not limited to Benin City, but also cover Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts.

Darlington said the agency inherited major challenges, including poor public confidence and low compliance with planning regulations.

“When we assumed office, we met a system plagued by low public trust and poor compliance, with fewer than 100 registered building plans monthly, despite over 500 ongoing constructions within the same period,” he said.

He noted that reforms introduced by the agency have led to significant improvement, including opportunities for property owners to regularise unapproved developments.

According to him, the state has now recorded more than a 200 per cent rise in monthly building plan registrations, driven by increased public confidence and ongoing reforms.

“We are optimistic of reaching between 500 and 1,000 approvals monthly,” he added.

Darlington stressed that proper documentation increases property value and helps ensure structural safety.

On the recent demolitions, he said more than 500 illegal shanties were removed in the Ugbor area, while structures in Etete, including makeshift buildings, factories, and churches erected under power lines and housing over 2,000 people, were also cleared.

He added that political interference in enforcement activities has been minimal, noting that the government remains committed to environmental safety and orderly urban growth.

The Edo State Development and Building Control Agency was established under a 2022 law to oversee building approvals and monitor construction projects to ensure compliance with approved plans and regulations statewide.