Homeowners weep as FCTA demolishes unapproved buildings

Homeowners weep 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 on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Mr Attah Ikharo, disclosed this during an interview with newsmen.

Ikharo stated that this year alone, over 1000 illegal buildings in the FCT had been demolished.

He stated, “We have yet to demolish 20 per cent of illegal structures existing in Abuja. We have done so much, yet much more is needed to be done if we really want to restore the territory to its original master plan. Despite working every day, we have not even started touching some places. By the time we touch those places, the FCT would be better than it is currently. There is massive work going on and we will touch everywhere, especially those developers who erect buildings without plans.

“Our aim is to restore the master plan. This city is one that evolved on its own. People sat down in Lagos, inspired by General Murtala Muhammed, to plan a new city from scratch. Hence, it will be wrong to neglect or destroy the planning, efforts and money put into planning the FCT by the founding fathers. Some of the plans have been distorted today. But if we are able to eradicate the distortions, we will restore Abuja to its master plan. This will correct and help address the issue of insecurity in the FCT.’’

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

Ikharo added that with the continued demolition and the efforts of the police to comb the bushes and uncompleted buildings, the FCTA had been able to rid Abuja of criminal elements to a large extent.

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

“We don’t and can’t compensate for illegality. There will be no compensation for owners of illegal buildings that were demolished nor for those we would still demolish,’’ he said.

It was reported that in July 2022, the FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, ordered the dismantling of illegal structures distorting the capital city’s master plan, and to tackle environmental degradation.

He gave the order when he led the City Sanitation Squad of the FCTA on a tour of the several illegal car marts, mechanic workshops, worship places, roadside trading spots and a notorious scavenger’s colony.

He was quoted as saying that the ongoing sanitation around Utako, Jabi parks, Wuye District and its environs, was a ministerial directive to tackle environmental degradation and other illegalities in the districts.

The move, our correspondent, learnt, was triggered by the recent inspection around the districts by the FCT minister who expressed displeasure that the administration’s disposition to the rule of law had been largely abused by the residents.

Ikharo bemoaned the activities of some lawless persons gradually turning the Utako and Jabi parks areas to places that jeopardise both the health and security of the city. He also lamented that scavengers who took over nearby undeveloped plots around the districts had added cannabis growing to their other illegal activities.

He said: “What is going on here is a total clean-up in Utako, Wuye and Tunde Idiagbon connecting points. The minister gave us the order and we started the joint operations. At this place, we are removing Baban Bola, you would be shocked to see mature grown cannabis. We have been seeing them regularly within the Baban Bola colonies. It is not safe for people to stay there, especially when Baban Bola takes over an expanse of land like this.

“Both environmental, security and planning issues are reasons why we are carrying out this massive clean-up and I believe the whole of this road stretch will wear a new look in the next one week.”

Ikharo also noted the administration discovered that the shanties were harbouring criminals leaving the government with no other choice but to clear them, adding that the number of shanties in some parts of the city was worrisome and the administration would not relent in its efforts to rid the city of shanties.

Also, an Assistant Director of Enforcement, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Mr Kaka Bello, said the clean-up had become necessary following reports of security breaches in the scavengers’ colony. Bello, who admitted that the areas posed challenges, noted that the administration’s resolve to sustain the clean-up was justifiable, as the areas had been severely sanitised, but the lawless occupants refused to vacate.

He further said that the administration had issued notices to owners of the undeveloped plots, stating that it might take action if the owners refused to commence development on them after three months.

He said, “This is a place with several challenges. The Baban Bola colony is not just constituting environmental nuisance but also security challenges. That is why we came to the place apart from the notices we served them. The measures we have are to ensure continuous enforcement. Just as one cleans one’s house every day, we will continue to enforce compliance. Besides, FCTA has directed that all plot owners should take possession of their property within three months. That is those that have building plan approvals, and those who don’t should also come forward or appropriate actions will be taken.”

In August this year, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Security Matters, Abu Mohammed, told journalists that most of the shanties were havens for miscreants, armed robbers, kidnappers and drug dealers.

Mohammed said, “There are also security threats, environmental hazards and open defecation together with other breaches of sanitation laws coupled with the current security situation. The menace of shanties in the FCT is no longer going to be tolerated.

“Same applies to abandoned buildings and bushy undeveloped plots, particularly in built up areas. A ministerial taskforce charged with that responsibility conducts its activities almost on a daily basis. This has brought sanity to many parts of the territory.

He added that the administration was also curtailing the menace of commercial motorcyclists in the city, adding that the ban on them in the municipality introduced in 2006 is still in force.

The minister’s aide further said that the enforcement of the ban was still on, disclosing that thousands of seized motorcycles were crushed quarterly.

“You are aware that most of the riders are nuisance, causing accidents here and there. It is a popular means of transportation for bandits and armed robbers. Miscreants also use it to snatch bags and other valuables from commuters,” he stated

He added, “Due to public outcry on the increasing activities of scavengers and the menace of vandalism and theft of private and public property, including critical national infrastructure, Baban Bola has been outlawed in the FCT.

“It was as a result of these efforts that the FCT minister directed relevant secretariats, departments and agencies to work jointly and close down identified scrap markets (Panteka) where the transmission lines and other stolen infrastructure are sold. Also, consideration is being given to stem the demand of items from the scavenging activities by targeting the end users. It is strongly believed that if the end users are identified and punished, it will curtail the rampant cases of vandalising critical national assets.’’

It was observed that since the FCT Police Commissioner ordered men and officers of the command to ensure tight security across the city due to the incessant report of security threats, the police had continued to comb bushes, uncompleted buildings, and other criminals’ hideouts to eject suspected criminals.

It also appeared that the FCT had become relatively peaceful and secure for some time since the order was given.

The FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, in an interview with our correspondent noted that officers and men of the command were working hard, combing bushes and shanties within the capital city.

Adeh said, “Our officers and men are not relenting. They are combing bushes and uncompleted buildings day and night to rid the FCT of criminals. We are making efforts to rid the FCT of criminals and criminality. As you might have observed, the territory is now peaceful, and people no longer live in fear. We’re working hard to protect lives and property.’’

Affected residents lament

Our correspondent spoke to some of the affected residents.

One of them is a former landlord in the Durumi area of the FCT, Abdullahi Adamu, who lamented that he was treated as a second class citizen with the demolition of his house.

He said, “I bought the land from the indigenes, Gbagi people, because I thought they had influence over the land in Abuja. It is really sad because we are being treated as second class citizens in our own country.”

Adamu noted that since the demolition of his building, he and his family members had yet to find a better place.

“My wife and three kids returned to Kaduna State to live with my parents and I have been sleeping at friends houses since the demolition. I cannot afford a new place now and I manage with a petty job.”

Also, Aisha Muhammed who resides in Dutse Makaranta, a populated suburb in Bwari Local Council Area, said that it was disheartening watching the FCT Task Force demolish the only home she had ever known.

Muhammed stated, “The house that they demolished was the only home I and my siblings had ever known. I felt bad when it occurred. Now, we have been squatting with friends and acquaintances. We hope that the government will help us out.”

A bricklayer who gave his name only as Sayyid said he had been sleeping over at the mini block industry where he works since his home was demolished some months ago.

Sayid added, “I now sleep over at the block industry where I work, and it has been tough for me to cope.’’

Another affected resident, Chinedu Okeke who sells wares at Kabusa market, said he now sleeps over at his shop after the house where he was a tenant was demolished. He added that he was forced to send his wife to his hometown in Anambra State.

On his part, a commercial motorcyclist, Muhmeen Adamu, said that he sold his bike to get some money to rent a new apartment after the Durumi 3 house where he lived was demolished.

Adamu stated, “I now live somewhere around Lugbe with some of my friends. I only come to Lokogoma to use my colleagues’ bikes to work and make some money to feed. I am trying to save up some money to buy another bike since I sold mine to rent an apartment.”

Firm to build 10,000 housing units

Amid the ongoing demolition of illegal structures in the capital city, an indigenous real estate firm said it will be targeting a total of 10,000 housing units in the FCT to bridge the city’s housing deficit.

Announcing its novel smart homes project, tagged ‘Hill City Community’ at a ceremony in Abuja, the firm’s chairman, Mr Akpa Achema, said that it intended to partner with Casa Cubana Homes to deliver on its mandate to satisfy the growing need for affordable and luxurious living.

He noted that the mass housing project would feature a variety of building designs and smart homes systems for everyone regardless of their financial capabilities.

Achema added that it was necessary that stakeholders put all hands on deck to curb the rising housing deficit by addressing the needs of the less-privileged.

He said, “I have always prayed to God to help me find a lasting solution to the housing difficulties our dear hardworking civil servants and those the society has classified as low-income earners face. They stabilise the economy yet cannot build houses for themselves because of the cost. This is why we partnered with another real estate firm to come up with this project.

“We have always built for the high and mighty in places such as Guzape, Jabi, Wuye, Asokoro, Katampe, and recently our new Dawn and Casa Cubana Golf Resort in Kukwaba. But, this project is different from others. This is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters for their dedication and passion to our nation. The project will be located in a fast developing and secure district in the FCT.”

Achema reiterated that the real estate company was established in response to the growing need in Africa and Nigeria for affordable and luxurious housing.

He said, “Part of our aim is to impact people’s lives and not profit-making. This agenda is not only in Abuja but across Nigeria. We are public, approved by the government and certified by the FCTA minister and all the property secured with building approvals.”