Abuja Residents Panic: Over Impending Demolition

                            

FCT residents have expressed fear over the impending demolition of illegal structures to be embarked upon by the development control department in various area councils in the territory.

The department’s officials had last week sensitized residents on the demolition of exercise to be carried out very soon. 

The locations where this demolition will take place are Idu, Karmo-Dape, Tasha, Gwagwa, Suburi, Zauda, Jahi, Gishiri, Mabushi, Mpape, Kuchigoro, Chika, Aleita, Piwoyi, Lugbe, Pyakassa, Tudun-wada, Deidei and Guzape.

In Mpape, residents were seen discussing in groups about the impending demolition after sighting development control officials marking structures in the area.

Also in Lugbe, residents of Tudun Wada were seen discussing about the exercise.

A resident, Tunde  Abolore, said notices  issued and markings carried out by development control officials are not new to them as such markings have been carried out in the past without the officials carrying out the demolition.

He said that the recent demolition threat in the area is being taken seriously because the residents have lost the case they filed against the FCDA to stop the latter from demolishing structures in the area, which according to him is occupied by over 5,000 residents.

When contacted, Development Control’s Spokesperson, Mrs. Joise Mudashiru, said the local announcement and sensitization campaigns carried out across over 19 villages in the six area councils of the FCT is to notify residents of illegal structures to vacate them before the exercise commences.

She said fears being expressed by residents is not usual as most of them know that they are living in buildings without government`s approval.

She advised those living in illegal structures to comply with the notices served on them by the department.

Royal Times.