TheCable

The federal capital territory administration (FCTA) has begun the demolition of about 102 houses built along waterways, following the recent flood incident which claimed some lives in Gwagwalada area council.

Garba Kwamkur, deputy director of monitoring and enforcement, department of development control, who led the exercise on Tuesday in Gwagwalada, said the “illegal houses” had been marked for demolition over a year ago.

Kwamkur noted that the occupants of the affected houses were given enough time to move out of the flood-prone areas but that they refused to obey the directive.

He said the government could not spare the houses anymore following the recent forecast of more rains and consequential flooding that would affect the area.

Kwamkur explained that the affected community was part of the land covering about 260 hectares, allocated within the Abuja master plan for the development of the University of Abuja at Gwagwalada.

“The University of Abuja had written to us about the encroachment issue. The settlement here that is due for resettlement has grown beyond its boundary,” he said.

“And we had issue of flood last week where five persons, who were carried away by the flood, were confirmed dead.

“We actually had to discuss with the village leaders on the need to move away from the flood-prone area. The FCT Emergency Management Agency has also predicted that there would be heavy flood this year.

“So, we are taking some precautionary measures; that’s why all the buildings along flood plains will have to go.

“All the contravention notices have been issued since 2019. No government will sit down and do nothing when the lives of its citizens are being threatened by either flood or any other thing.”