By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has sealed an abandoned building in the highbrow Maitama District of Abuja over security threat.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello who led officials of the Department of Development Control and Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), said the sealing of the uncompleted building is to ensure security of lives and property.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, by Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, said the 3 storey building located at plot 22 Cadastral zone, A05, Udi Hills Street, Maitama has been abandoned and posing security threats to residents of the area..
According to the statement, evidences of unwholesome activities were discovered and some squatters found in the building were apprehended by security operatives, though identity of the owner of the building is not disclosed.
Bello reiterated the commitment of the FCT Administration to ensure the safety of all residents of the nation’s capital, and said that steps will be taken to ensure that abandoned and uncompleted buildings within the city do not pose threats to residents.
Enforcing the order, the Coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu said that integrity tests would be carried out on the structure and if it fails the test, the allocation wil be revoked and the building will be pulled down.
He said: “The building has been abandoned for a very long time, and presently, the FCT Administration has a policy of taking actions on abandoned buildings in the city.
“We have security challenges. This structure is susceptible to be used by criminals. Also, by the time a building is left unused for a long time, it is subject to rot and weakening; and this could trigger collapse of the structure in the future.
“So we definitely have to seal and if there is any necessity for us to allow work to continue, we must conduct integrity test and make sure it passes the test before we allow that. If it means for us to revoke it, we will do it because we have the power to do so. The building also constitutes a risk to those living around here”.
The Director, Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, also explained that the Administration in the past, met with owners of abandoned buildings in the Territory and agreed that they would conduct intercity tests and complete them.
He regretted that while others resumed work and completed, some did not, making the buildings to become security threats.
