At the summit, which held at Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenagoa, the governor warned property developers against acquiring lands and developing structures in water channels to prevent destruction of property and loss of human lives to yearly flooding.

Represented by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Diri urged the Board to ensure sanctions, without sparing anybody, including himself and government officials that violate building laws and regulations of the state.

He said: “This government is giving Physical Planning and Development Board marching order that after this three days summit, they should rise to the occasion. That means there should be no sacred cow in the demolition of illegal buildings in the state capital.”

“What we are suffering from as a government is the leniency and unwillingness of government. Political will has been in short supply in terms of enforcement of the physical planning laws. But I can assure you under this present administration, the political will to enforce these laws will come to full force.

“We are determined to change the narrative. As far as I am concerned, this summit will be an exercise of self entertainment and waste of energy, if we do not change the position of government towards enforcement.”

In his goodwill message, the immediate past Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd), commended the Board for organising the summit and urged them to be courageous in the implementation of useful ideas that would emanate from the event.

Delivering a keynote address, titled: “The Role of Master-planning in Bayelsa State as a Tool for Sustainable Development, Mr. Harcourt Adukeh, wondered why successive administrations were not been to implement the Yenagoa master plan.

Adukeh, an architect, noted that the masterplan, which was published in Year 2000, aimed at achieving economic and demographic growth of Yenagoa and promoting a green and beautiful scenery of the capital city.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Chairman of the Board, Chief Gideon Ekeowei, said the summit was put together for all relevant stakeholders and sectors of the society to give ideas on building and development control.