The department of Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has revealed the reasons and circumstances surrounding the demolition of no fewer than 25 structures in Kyami district of Abuja on Wednesday.
In an interview with the African Housing News on Thursday, the Director of the department, Muktar Galadima said the move is part of the administration’s efforts to clamp down on illegal structures.
“This is in continuation of our programme of removing illegal structures perpetuated by land grabbers. We have started a long time ago, maybe because this one got to the knowledge of your colleagues if not we have started long time ago. In fact, two weeks ago we removed some structures in Lugbe. You see, there is this culture of impunity that some people believe that they can just do things on their own and go away with it. Somebody will go and see a space of land and just start developing without recourse to the authority, without valid document, without development permit.
“So as a result of that we have to go on and remove these structures. That is not the end, more are coming. We are not resting on our words”.
When asked if the occupants/developers were forewarned before the operation, the director succinctly averred that they were duly informed. “The structures were marked. They requested to be integrated but the authority said no because it is illegal development. We can’t continue to condone illegality so we have to resist all this type of nefarious activities. That is why we did that”.
On his advice for developers who have projects along lugbe axis, Galadima said “You see, for quite some time now we have been telling developers, we have embarked on campaigns a long time that please and please they should give us time.
“We are on the planning scheme of this axis because hitherto before 2007, Lugbe was not considered as part of the city proper but during the past administration it was considered as part of the city, looking at the strategic position it is located when you are coming from the airport to the city so it was considered as part of phase five of the city.
“So that is why all allocations made were put on hold. All development were suspended pending the final outcome of the re-planning scheme being embarked by the administration. So that is why we told developers to hold on. But then some people cash on this interim and they move to even short change real order of the plots there; move in, earmark land on their own and they want to develop them without recourse to the authority, without valid title document, without a development permit so as a result of that we have to move in and remove all illegalities.
Remarking on the Abuja Master Plan and what the administration is currently doing along Lugbe axis, Galadima said “The Abuja master plan is a special document that was developed to guide the development of the entire FCT. It was designed to guide physical and economic development of the new federal capital city. You know in the course of implementing the plan, we saw the need to accommodate this part of the city (that is the Lugbe axis) into the city proper so we embarked on re-planning the area so that is why we are telling developers who own titled documents to hold on until when we are done with this re-planning scheme then they can go back to their plot and commence development”.
The director enjoined the general public to do proper test before subscribing to any land transaction in the FCT.
Responding to what is his advice for the general public who want to subscribe to ongoing housing projects in the affected areas, he said “Let’s make it like a caveat now, whoever wants to do any transaction on land, not only in Lugbe, all over the FCT, let him conduct due diligence by first and foremost checking the authenticity of that land title. Is it genuine, was it allocated by the relevant authority? Then confirm if the estate has been approved. Or what they are developing is it in line with what they have approved? So that at the end of the day you will not be short-changed.
“So my advice is that people should conduct due diligence test on all that they want to do on land transaction in FCT. Otherwise they will end up being losers. You sink in your money, at the end of the day whatever you put there will be removed and then you shouldn’t blame the authority because we have been saying, buyers beware”.
