The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the total clearance of illegal settlements and shanties across Abuja, warning that the Administration will no longer tolerate hideouts for criminals or obstacles to developmental projects.
“The ongoing onslaught on criminal hideouts in Abuja will continue,” Wike said, stressing that shanties in locations such as Area 1, Durumi, have become security threats and must be dismantled.
According to him, the FCTA is deeply concerned about high-level criminal activities linked to these settlements, including robbery, carjacking, drug peddling and one-chance operations, which endanger law-abiding residents.
To address the menace, Wike set up a Stakeholders’ Committee comprising security agencies, FCTA officials, civil society groups, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister, Lere Olayinka, disclosed in a statement on Monday that the committee identified Area 1, Durumi, as a notorious operational base for kidnappers, drug dealers and carjackers.
Just three months ago, a raid in the area led to the arrest of over 120 suspects, including one-chance operators and armed robbers. Security operatives also recovered seven stolen vehicles, 79 motorcycles, and 155 ATM cards snatched from victims.
Although some of the shanties were cleared then, Olayinka said the illegal occupants have since regrouped, rebuilding structures and resuming criminal activities.
“These makeshift houses sit on land allocated more than 20 years ago, but genuine allottees and even government agencies have been unable to use their property because of illegal settlers,” he explained.
The FCTA has already begun clearing shanties in parts of the city centre, with the Durumi and Area 1 axis next in line.
