The Federal Capital Territory Administration on Wednesday demolished over 350 illegal structures at Iddo Sarki community in the nation’s capital.
The administration had on July 11 and 14 demolished over 137 and 473 structures respectively in the community.
The demolition, however, was against the order by the Public Complaints Commission.
The commission’s FCT commissioner, Dalhatu Ezekiel, had on July 25 ordered the FCT minister, Muhammed Bello, to stop the demolition pending the investigation of the petitions it had received.
The Chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Ikharo Attah, said the land was taken over by desperate investors, who took advantage of the community’s proximity to University of Abuja to build illegal hostels for students.
He, however said the FCTA would not pay compensation to the victims, noting that they contravened extant laws by building illegally.
He said, “The FCTA will not pay any compensation to the victims. They contravened extant laws by building illegally. They are advised to seek justice against the sellers of the illegal land.
“The ongoing exercise is part of measures to save the nation’s capital from becoming an undesirable slum.”
Also speaking, Peter Olumuji, from FCTA Department of Security Services, confirmed that the ongoing sanitation and demolition had reduced the rate of crime along the Airport road area.
Source: Punch NG
