By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) with traditional rulers recently met to stop the increasing illegal expansion of communities in some chiefdoms.
During the meeting, Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah said the renewed massive demolition of illegal structures in some of the communities along the Airport road, was because the some residents were embarking on illegal expansion of the areas by selling land without government’s approval.
He decried the rate at which some communities on that road axis were expanding, with local Chiefs still selling land illegally to people to build without government’s approval.
Attah while expressing displeasure that residents were forcing government to spend scarce resources on demolition exercise, also vowed that enforcement of orders will not abate until environmental sanity was restore to all parts of the territory.
He equally noted that FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello was determined to removing all the illegalities, having warned local Chiefs who illegally sell land, as well as those buying and developing such land.
Attah while reiterating that the houses of the indigenous people located within the approved areas won’t be demolished, said that all the structures on the illegal expansion would be pulled down.
He explained that the essence of holding meetings with traditional and Community leaders of the affected places, was to ensure that ensure proper sensitization, as well as galvanize support.
He further warned people who have continued with the habit of buying and building of houses illegally in any part of Abuja.
According to him, such practices amount to a collosal waste of resources, and also very tragic to economic growth.
The Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Community Relation, Ishaku Yamawo, called on the various Community leaders to desist from all negative activities that will attract punitive measures from government.
Yamawo also assured the leaders that indigenous peoples houses would not be affected in the demolition exercise.
