In a decisive move, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) executed the demolition of illegal structures in Gwarinpa, resulting in the displacement of over fifteen thousand occupants. According to Muktar Galadima, the FCT Director of Development Control, the demolished structures were impeding Road N16, a crucial artery connecting the Federal Secretariat, Maitama, Katampe, Jahi, and Gwarinpa.
Galadima emphasized the necessity of the demolition, stating that it paved the way for the impending road construction project. The Engineering Department of FCTA, having already awarded the construction project, is poised to commence work promptly.
“These structures were unlawfully erected within the road corridor, compelling their removal to facilitate the essential road construction,” Galadima clarified.
Addressing the relocation of displaced occupants, Galadima mentioned that the FCTA was ensuring alternative arrangements for their housing needs. He noted that the illegal occupation of the area ranged between 10,000 to 15,000 people, underscoring the urgency to proceed with the road construction post-clearance.
Dr. Peter Olumuji, the Secretary of FCT Command and Control Center, shed light on the security aspect of the demolition. The demolished shanties, he revealed, had gained notoriety for harboring criminal activities, including illicit drug dealing, rape cases, and armed robbery incidents.
Olumuji expressed optimism that the removal of these structures would significantly improve security in Gwarinpa and its vicinity, offering a safer environment for residents.
