TheCable

The federal capital territory administration (FCTA) has commenced the demolition of structures built in flood-prone areas in Abuja.

Mukhtar Galadima, FCTA director, department of development control, spoke on Thursday during an inspection of areas likely to be affected by the flood.

Galadima said the demolition was part of the measures adopted by the FCTA to prevent flooding in the federal capital territory (FCT).

He said all sector monitors have been directed to present a list of constructions in waterways for immediate demolition before the rainy season.

“What we are doing here is as a result of an outing with my management team, where we spotted these developments across the flood plain in Mabushi district, which we have to remove,” NAN quoted Galadima as saying.

“We need to be more proactive. That’s why we went round some districts of the city, and we noticed some of these developments across flood plains.

“We are aware that the federal capital territory (FCT) Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has inaugurated sensitisation on flooding.

”In line with this, we are going to identify these locations and start removing the structures before the rains begin fully.

“So it is an ongoing exercise, we will keep moving round, take notes and remove where necessary.

“We have seen the floods and other natural disasters, and their consequences across the globe.”

The director warned residents against building on waterways.

He added that the FCT legal secretariat has been asked to review all frameworks regulating developments in the FCT.

TheCable had earlier reported that the federal capital territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said over 24,000 residents and 131 structures in the FCT were affected by flood in 2022.