By Daniel Tyokua
The Department of Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has marked structures without government approval on Karmo-Dei-Dei road corridor for demolition.
Officials of the department led by Mr Garba Jibril, sector monitor and Assistant Director, on Monday served a 24-hour demolition notices to owners of the over five hundred illegal markets and shanties in the area.
Jibril told journalists that the action followed series of meetings the Director of Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima had with the stakeholders.
According to him, removing of the structures was necessary because they constitute a nuisance on the road in addition to heavy traffic, especially on their market days.
He said their activities were equally emitting environmental hazards, which the FCT Administration frowns at.
The team lead also disclosed that the FCT Administration had awarded a contract for the construction of Life Camp – Dei-Dei road.
He, however, said that the traders’ continuous stay on the road corridor was preventing the contractors from moving to site.
According to him, the 24-hour notice is not to be played with and those who refused to comply will have themselves to blame.
He also said the traders have been asked to move to the designated market called Karmo market, adding that the market was fully developed and equipped with necessary facilities but the traders had been reluctant to move.
“We have had several meetings with the relevant stakeholders including traditional leaders in the area to get them to move but they remained adamant.
“We equally held a meeting with the traders and the new market operators, who promised to give the traders some incentives to be able accommodate them in both the informal and the main shops.
“We are hoping that after the demolition, there will be a successful relocation from the road corridor to the main market.
“This will not only maintain a serene environment, but also ensure free flow of traffic in the area,” he said
