Homeowners cry as FCTA demolishes unapproved buildings

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has demolished over 1000 illegal buildings in Abuja since the beginning of this year. The Senior Special Assistant for Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Mr. Attah Ikharo revealed this during an interview with Sunday PUNCH.

Ikharo said that this year alone, more than 1000 illegal FCT buildings have been demolished.

He said, “We still have to demolish 20% of the existing illegal structures in Abuja. We have done so much, but much more needs to be done if we are truly to return the territory to its original master plan. Despite the daily work, we haven't even begun to touch certain places. By the time we hit those spots, the FCT would be better than it is right now. There is massive construction going on and we will touch everywhere, especially the developers erecting buildings without plans.

"Our goal is to restore the blueprint. This city is one that has evolved on its own. People sat down in Lagos, inspired by General Murtala Muhammed, to plan a new city from scratch. Therefore, it would be wrong to overlook or destroy the planning, effort and money invested in the planning of the CTF by the founding fathers. Some of the plans were distorted today. But if we are able to eradicate the distortions, we will restore Abuja to its master plan. This will correct and help solve the problem of insecurity in the FCT. ''

He claimed that most of these FCT criminals lived in the illegal structures and sometimes carried out their criminal activities there.

Ikharo added that with continued demolitions and police efforts to comb through bushes and unfinished buildings, the FCTA had been able to clear Abuja of criminal elements in a wide measure.

He further noted that there would be no compensation for owners of illegal buildings demolished by the FCTA.

"We do not and cannot compensate illegality. There will be no compensation for the owners of illegal buildings that have been demolished nor for those that we will still demolish", a- he said.

The PUNCH reported that in July 2022 FCT Minister Muhammad Bello ordered the dismantling of illegal structures distorting the capital's master plan and to fight against environmental degradation.< /p>

He gave the order when he led the FCTA's city sanitation squad on a tour of several illegal car markets, mechanic shops, places of worship, roadside businesses and a famous scavenger colony.

He reportedly said that the ongoing cleanup around Utako, Jabi Parks, Wuye District and surrounding areas was a ministerial directive to address environmental degradation and other illegalities in the districts.

The move, Sunday PUNCH, has learned, was sparked by the recent inspection around the districts by the FCT Minister who expressed displeasure that the administration's disposition to the rule of law has been widely abused by local residents.

Ikharo lamented the activities of some lawless people gradually turning the areas of Utako and Jabi parks into places that jeopardize both the health and safety of the city. He also lamented that scavengers who have taken over nearby undeveloped plots around the districts have added cannabis cultivation to their other illegal activities.

He said: "What is happening here is a total clearing of the connection points of Utako, Wuye and Tunde Idiagbon. The minister gave us the order and we started joint operations. In this place we remove Baban Bola, you would be shocked to see mature grown cannabis. We see them regularly within Baban Bola settlements. It is not safe for people to stay there, especially when Baban Bola grabs a tract of land like this.

"Environmental, safety and planning issues are the reasons we are doing this massive cleanup and I believe this whole stretch of road will wear a new look during the week next."< /p>

Ikharo also noted that the administration discovered that the shacks housed criminals, leaving the government no choice but to clean them up, adding that the number of shacks in some parts of the city was disturbing and that the administration would not relax its efforts to rid the city of the barracks.

Furthermore, a Deputy Director of Law Enforcement, Abuja Environment Protection Council, Mr. Kaka Bello, said that the cleanup became necessary following reports of security breaches at the scavenger colony. Bello, who admitted the areas posed challenges, noted that the administration's determination to continue the cleanup was justifiable, as the areas had been severely sanitized, but the lawless occupiers refused to leave.

He added that the administrator...