TheCable

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has marked 500 illegal houses and structures for demolition in Dutsen-Garki in the Apo district of Abuja.

Mukhtar Galadima, FCTA director of the department of development control, spoke on Wednesday after a meeting with the leaders of the community.

Galadima, who was represented at the meeting by Hassan Ogbole, FCTA deputy director of monitoring and enforcement, said all structures found to have been illegally acquired or built would be demolished.

He expressed concerns that many residents are in the habit of acquiring properties and lands from the natives without approval from the FCTA.

“This is unacceptable to the FCT administration,” NAN quoted Galadima as saying.

He said the meeting with the locals was in line with the reform agenda of the administration to consult the natives before any demolition exercise to avoid storming the area unannounced.

Galadima added that the sit-down was to also intimate the leaders of the affected community and the public on the intended exercise.

He further said an agreement has been reached with the community leaders to embark on marking houses and structures illegally built by non-indigenes in two weeks’ time, after which the demolition exercise would take place.

The director advised residents against contacting locals for land acquisition, urging them to approach the right agency saddled with such a responsibility.

Galadima also advised the locals against selling off lands and properties to non-indigenes or expanding without the approval of the authorities.

In his remarks, Kak Bello, deputy director of monitoring and enforcement of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), said besides erecting illegal structures, some people also build on waterways.

“This is not good for the environment. Building on flood plains and dumping of refuse on waterways contribute to the environmental problems being experienced in some parts of FCT,” Bello said.

“I urge people to be law-abiding and desist from building illegally and on flood plains.”