FCTA Commences Audit Of Buildings In Satellite Towns

By Remi Johnson

Owners of buildings in Satellite Towns without prior approval from the FCT Department of Development Control may now have the option of getting post-development approval, without fear of their structure being demolished.

This is because the Federal Capital Territory Administration , FCTA, has begun massive post-development audit of Satellite Towns buildings, towards ascertaining the structures that could be considered for building approval issuance.

At the commencement of the exercise in Dawaki, Abuja, Director, FCT Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the measure was part of efforts aimed at ensuring that existing houses that meet necessary criterias, but had no building approvals are given needed consideration.

The FCT Development Control Boss therefore urged owners of property in satellite towns to submit the requisite information for necessary action within the next 21days.

He appealed to residents to give FCTA officials maximum cooperation to enable the Department set records straight in line with the renewed Hope Agenda, adding that most of them were not given approval because of lack of engineering design in the satellite towns.

“There are over 15 towns, and when you look at such towns like Gwagwalada, Kuje, Karshi, Bwari, Abaji etc, but we want to cover all the Satellite towns. So, we are commencing the post development audit, so that those that built without approvals, we can now assess them, and grant them such approvals”.

“Within 21 days, we are expecting the owners of property to submit the requisite information that are expected of them for necessary action…in line with the extant laws, because in FCT, you cannot build without approval… If it is something that can be done, we can approve it, but if it is something we cannot approve, we will say it cant be condoned, hence we have to remove it.” Galadima explained.

In a related development,
Galadima also visited the infamous scavengers colony that the FCT Minister visited a-week ago, and directed that all the trees should be cut to keep the area safe.

“We are in high spirits, because of Ministerial backing we have gotten, it is a very big push for us to achieve the objective”, he stressed.

A land owner around the road corridors, in Mabushi, Kayode Olumudeji, expressed delight over the scavengers den that was cleared in the area.

“prior to this time, we don’t like coming here, because, when we come, you get disturbed and you go home sad because of what you see at the site, as baba-bolas tookover the area, and your heart will be broken. But, coming here now, I’m happy, and I know that when I come back in two weeks time, I will be more happy.We are happy with the strides this FCT Minister is trying to achieve, and I want to believe that everybody that has property here will be very happy.”

Edited By Grace Namiji