…Warns Against Distortion Of Abuja Master Plan
After a three-week pause, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) resumed a large demolition campaign in Iddo Sarki, a village near the University of Abuja, on Wednesday, demolishing over 350 illegal structures.
The Iddo Sarki hamlet, which is just a few kilometers from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, is said to have been taken over by desperate investors looking to profit from the town’s proximity to the University of Abuja by building illegal student hostels and motels.
The break was agreed upon by FCTA and several stakeholders, who requested more time to speak with community leaders and also enlist the help of other stakeholders, who pleaded for extra time to speak with community leaders and also enable affected people to relocate, according to Comrade Ikharo Attah, Chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation.
According to Attah, returning the bulldozers to the Community was crucial to maintaining the sanitation pace, since the number of illegalities detected had escalated to alarming levels.
He went on to explain that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory had reaffirmed his commitment to the current exercise, which was part of a plan to keep the nation’s capital from becoming a slum.
He, however, warned all attempts to to distort the master plan will be resisted, he warned that there was no relenting on the proposed demolition of illegal structures at Mpape community.
He stated that, enough time and notices have been given to affected people at Mpape, stating that in two weeks time the bulldozers will move in there.
He added that FCTA will not pay any compensation to the victims, who contravened extant laws by building illegally. He however, advised that victims can seek for justice against the sellers of the illegal land.
” The first notice we give to the people is to stop buying land from the natives, unfortunately, the chiefs have denied selling land to anybody.
” We are not going back in the demolition. After here we are moving to Mpape, Where residents have requested for the demolition.
” Anyone who buy land from the local Chiefs, is doing that in contraventions of the laws and such persons will bear the brunt. Our work is to remove illegalities. Those who were affected can seek for justice against those that sold the illegal land”
Meanwhile, the representative from the FCTA Department of Security Services, Peter Olumuji, confirmed that the ongoing sanitation and demolition exercise has reduced the rate of crime along the Airport road axis.
Olumuji said that from the statistics recorded at the department, the demolition had dislodged most of the criminals that hitherto held the residents to ransom.
He further assured that FCTA will not relent to ensuring adequate security at all the communities within Abuja.
