By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA ) Task force, Operation Sweep has demolished over 1,000 structures without government approval at Karsana District in Abuja.
This is in continuation of its citywide sanitation aimed at curbing suspected criminal activities of unhoused people in the area.
Addressing journalists after the operation on Monday, the Director, Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, said the operation had avoided homes of indigenous inhabitants.
He said the illegal structures have taken over some strategic road corridors, obstructing development.
Galadima insisted that the exercise will continue until all 2-kilometers of the road stretch is completely cleared.
“Today’s exercise is carried out along the proposed Ring Road 3 corridor at the intersection of N16 and RR3, where we have the Map global Estate. You can see the shanties, squatters and people of questionable character. So, as part of the Citywide Sanitation exercise to enhance security, that’s why we are here today to continue as planned.
“When you look at these structures, they are mostly made of shacks, and temporary materials. So far so good, we have cleared more than 1,000 around this place and we are about to continue, because the work is enormous and the stretch of the road is as long as 2 kilometres, all consisting of shacks and shanties.
“We have had discussion with relevant authorities, which they had said that for now, the RR3 is not yet awarded, but the N16 has been awarded and the work is in progress.
“We have been intimated by the Department of Resettlement and Compensation that there are some indigenous communities on the corridor. That’s why we tried as much as possible not to interfere with the existence of such communities”.
Corroborating, the Director FCTA Security Services, Adamu Gwary represented by Peter Olumuji, said the operation highlighted the nexus between development control and security, saying that no arrests had been made in the course of the operations.
“Well, this Map Global Estate axis, which has other estates, has been a great source of concern for those residing within the estate. And you will know there is a nexus between development control and security of their lives and property. And what we have seen here is that we noticed because we have indigenous communities here, these criminal elements try to make shanties behind those indigenous communities to serve as a cover to their own shanties.
“And what we have done today, most of the residents that have passed through this place really praise the good effort of the FCT Administration. And like the Director has said, it is going to be a continuous clearance. We are not just going to leave it, we are goin to take over this place,” he said.
