The Federal Capital Territory Administration has demolished 11 duplexes in the Dutse District of Abuja for being built under high-tension power lines and along a stream channel.
The Director, Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, who led the operation on Thursday, said the developer ignored several stop-work notices before the FCTA moved in.
Galadima said, “This is Garba Duba Street, within the Dutse District of Abuja, Federal Capital City. That’s phase two of the Federal Capital City, not far away from the popular Cedarcrest, as well as Amina Court. So, we’re here this morning to enforce our notices being served.
“Yes, this is a statutorily allocated plot to the developer. They requested approval and applied for building plan approval, which we declined because it’s in proximity to a high-tension line, as well as a stream channel. So, we declined to approve, but they moved ahead to work.
“We have been serving notices, even from the excavation stage. At various stages of development, we’ve been serving notices, and we even communicated to them in writing that the work should be stopped. But unfortunately, maybe considering their institution and agency, they moved on.”
He added that the engineering department of the FCTA reported an intent by the developer to build bridges, prompting the immediate decision to demolish.
He, however, said the administration might consider allocating an alternative plot to the developer since the land was originally statutorily allocated.
“The engineering department wrote to us their intent to construct a bridge on that particular section of the District.
“We also informed them that there is a proposed bridge that is going to be constructed over the stream channel. So, there’s nothing we can do about this.
“What we advise is that since this is a statutorily allocated plot, the FCT administration can give them alternative sites,” he said.
Responding to why the demolition was delayed until the buildings were nearly completed, Galadima said, “If you heard me very well, as a reasonable institution, once you are served a notice, it should stop. That’s why I always say, notice that we serve, please respect it.
“If you don’t respect it, we’ll allow you to waste your money, and we’ll bring it down. So that is very important, not just to them, but to everybody. So long as you intend to develop in FCT, once you are served a notice, please and please stop. Come for clarification whether to proceed or not to proceed.”
He disclosed that the FCTA was considering a law that would compel owners of demolished illegal structures to pay fines, adding that the affected developer would not receive any compensation.
“No, no compensation. Compensation is given to any property that has approval, but then it’s being cut off by the development process. In this context, no approval, you were asked to stop at the excavation stage, you didn’t comply, so there’s no compensation,” he added.