FCTA To Arrest Violators Of Abuja Master Plan

By Remi Johnson

Beyond the demolition of illegal structures, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has revealed plans to commence the arrest of adamant illegal developers violating the Abuja Master plan.

Director, Department of Development Control, Murktar Galadima gave the indication during a cleanup exercise at Asokoro and Maitama districts of Abuja.

Mr Galadima explained that the Administration would be left with no choice but to arrest violators who erect structures indiscriminately without building approval or adherence to building guidelines.

According to Galadima, the measure would help to address gross misconduct and put in check those who think they can always get away with their lawless actions, as well as help the FCTA to sustain already cleared areas.

“The cleanup is a continuous exercise because you will agree with me that there’s a lot of negativity associated with the FCT, in particular Abuja. So, now we want to clear that impression. We want to sanitize the city, all those dark spots that we believe constitute security threats …we want to clean the city to make it a capital city of our dream.

“Then, generally, we’ll come back to the issue of monthly sanitation. For now, we’ve been to Kabusa junction, we’ve been to Galadimawa runabout, suncity, ring road two corridor.

“So, we’re going all around the city. Definitely, we’ll go back to Ruga, and then this time around, when we go back, once we clear, we will arrest those violating the Abuja Masterplan”.

Earlier, the enforcement team had stormed the highbrow area of Asokoro to demolish a building that was allegedly said to have beeen constructed in violation of the approval issued for the building.

However, the owners of the apartment in question, presented a court judgement barring the FCTA from removing the structure.

Sighting the court judgement, the enforcement team withdrew from the earlier intention to demolish the apartment.

Reacting, the Director Development Control Muktar Galadima said the Administration would further consult the Legal Secretariat for appropriate guidance on the next line of action.

He said that aside from building in contravention with the approval given, the structure had been abandoned for a long time and was now used as a safe haven for criminals, which the administration strongly frowned against.

“The building is an abandoned building harbouring criminals. You’ll recall that towards the end of the last administration, the former minister was there because of the same reason. So, we served them notice for removal.

“That’s why recently, the new minister has also embarked on dealing with abandoned structures. So that’s why we moved in to remove that structure so as to give way but then as you noticed, while the operation was going on, the owners of the property came up with a court judgement indicating that the FCT administration should not temper with that particular property.

“By the time you go around that particular building, you will see a lot of markings. This means that there was adequate notice to the owners of the structure.

“As responsible citizens, I have to stop the action and consult with the Legal Secretariat of the FCT about the court judgement to know if there was any appeal made. Then, I would be adequately informed and would also be advised on the next line of action.

“What was approved, if you look at that area, it is purely a low density residential area and predominantly the development there is low density residential development. Mostly, duplexes with one suspended floor or two suspended floors.

“But the structure in question is a massive structure of luxury apartments, which may end up to be a hotel. So, there was no approval to that effect. ” Galadima explained.

Edited By Grace Namiji