AMMC Drags Citiscape Developer, Says It Is Not Business As Usual

The Cordinator Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, Chief Felix Obuah has given two weeks ultimatum to the Citiscape Villa Estate Developer in Guzape District of Abuja to correct all anomalies going on in the Estate, which is contrary to what was officially approved.

Chief Obuah gave the ultimatum in Abuja when he led heads of City Managers and Journalists on an enforcement operation against defaulting developers who contravened urban planning regulations in Utako and Guzape Districts.

Addressing Journalists, Chief Obuah said the widespread violations and unauthorized constructions in waterways within the Citiscape Estate, must be pulled down to avert preventable catastrophe in the near future.

Chief Obuah emphasized that this enforcement drive is part of the FCT Minister’s commitment to transforming Abuja and curbing sabotage from both developers and complicit staff.

“It is no longer business as usual. We want this to serve as a lesson to other developers who take laws into their hands. Today, we have mobilized equipment and machines”.

“Today, we have seen it, and thank God the developer has accepted that part of the project going on here was not provided by him, although he gave out the land. He also pleaded for time to do the needful.”

“Most of all those buildings that are not supposed to be, that do not have approval, will go down. And this is not the only ones. Any other building that does not have approval, or that is built on waterways or on a road corridor, ” Obuah said.

Chief Obuah, however, warned that any staff found wanting as an accomplice would be sanctioned in accordance with civil service rules.

On his part, Director, Department of Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, reinforced the Council’s stance on zero tolerance for contraventions and warned all Developers to abide by the approval from relevant authorities.

The Chairman FCT Building Contravention, Gabriel Osa, revealed that the estate developer actually got approval for 18 buildings within that road corridor, but went ahead to contruct 42 buildings against what was originally approved.

Reacting to the situation, the Director of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Osilama Braimah, strongly condemned the degradation of natural landscapes by developers, adding that natural features have been altered without consideration for long-term consequences.

Also speaking, the Director of FCT Parks and Recreation Department, Chinemelu Echee, expressed deep concern over the disregard for environmental sustainability.

“It is unfortunate that despite widespread public awareness of the effects of global warming, some individuals and developers still choose to interfere with the natural ecosystem. This recklessness has far-reaching implications for our environment, Echee said”.

On his part, the Estate Developer of Citiscape Villa, Mr. Kadiru Obaidi, admitted responsibility for the violations, attributing most of the infractions to unmonitored actions by subscribers who purchased land within the estate.

He also pledged to demolish any structure encroaching upon designated waterways, assuring the authorities and the public of full compliance going forward.

“We accept full responsibility. I appeal to the authorities for two weeks to remove every infraction ourselves and at our cost,” he said.

The team of FCTA enforcement officers had earlier visited the site of plot 293 at Utako district over contravention .

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji