By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has asked Dutsen-Garki natives to begin identification of illegal structures for demolition as the bulldozer will soon roll into the area.
Director department of development control FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima disclosed this after a dialogue meeting with Dutsen-Garki natives in Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) office.
He said most individuals acquire lands from the natives without approval from the FCT Administration, which according to him, was an unacceptable practice.
Galadima, who spoke through the Deputy Director monitoring and enforcement, Hassan Ogbole, said the administration would not spare any land or structure without approval from the constituted authorities.
“The city is grappling with individuals acquiring lands from natives without FCT Administration approval, it is unacceptable to the government, this must not continue.
“We have instances of recent removals that have been carried out in some areas which is still in progress, there are many other illegal settlements in line, IEA in Dutsen-Garki which we just held a meeting about. We have a pending removal there to carry out because people we come, and buy from the natives, and deny the original allottees from taking over possession.
“In line with the FCTA reform agenda, before we embark on any removal we have to consult with the natives, so that we don’t take them unaware”
Galadima said the officials of the department will use two weeks to mark the illegal structures before embarking on the full demolition exercise.
In his remarks, the deputy director monitoring and enforcement Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Kaka Bello said the illegalities were affecting the environment and would not be allowed to remain.
“A part from illegal expansion, people also build on water ways and is not good for the environment. The illegalities if not tackled will bring about flood and erosion” .
The Dutsen-Garki community representative at the meeting, Danjuma Fanus appealed to the FCT Administration to give them more time to put things in a better shape.
“We appeal to the FCT Administration to give us more time, we just loss our chief. We will get back to the officials of the administration before the expiration of the deadline” Fanus said.
