More than 20 houses believed to have been erected illegally were pulled down on the authority of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) early Monday morning in Abuja, Truthlive.net has learnt.
The authorities say that the houses, mainly shops were illegally erected along Tunde Idiagbon Way, Utako, Abuja.
All agencies involved were present at the site to guarantee that the work was completed during the demolition, which began as early as 5 am and involved three pay loader machines operating simultaneously.
Speaking to journalists at the event, Tpl. Umar Shuiabu, the coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), bemoaned the traffic and criminal activity on the stretch, saying, it’s unacceptable.
He said: “This is a continuous cleanup of Abuja, this area was very notorious, you can see the road (Tunde Idiagbon stretch at Utako) anytime you pass here there is always traffic and the reason is because of the illegal activities in this area, while the motor park is inside, the illegal market is outside.
“Unfortunately there was an illegal allocation not by constituted authority to build a market outside the park, which is generating all these tensions, we have been on this matter for a very long time, for so many years, and we have given them notice so many times but uptill now these people didn’t comply the last one was given and we followed all necessary processes.
“Now we have ministerial directive to clear the place and that is what we are doing in the next few days, you will have free flow of traffic, this is what we want in the city of Abuja. Whatever you want to do, you must follow the process before you build”, he said.
Director, Department of Development Control, Tlp. Muktar Galadima has foreclosed any hope of compensation for the destroyed properties.
“There is no compensation because the corner shops were built since El Rufai, and they have outlived their stay, purpose and government gave them a grace of five years and they are suppose to come and renew but since then no renewal and so they have outlived their stay. There is no compensation”,” he said.