By Emmanuel OGBECHE
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, has disclosed that demolition of structures in the nation’s capital will not stop anytime soon as developers and residents constantly flout the Abuja masterplan.
Speaking at the 40th media briefing organised by State House journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Bello said, “Maybe, I need to clarify my comment on demolitions and put it in the proper context. What I was saying is that it’s unfair for the general public to rate ministers based on destruction and demolition of property. So that is the main context as I said and I was bashed because I was not demolishing.
“But having said that, of course, we demolish and we will continue to demolish. As a matter of fact, as we are seated here, a team is demolishing somewhere already today. And these things will continue because no matter how you try, they are those who still would not want to follow regulations”.
The minister also explained that developers lack idea of what can be sold quickly, hence the hundreds of unoccupied estates in the territory, stressing that the erection of super structures in areas that need something lesser was a bane.
On the issue of uncompleted buildings contributing to the growing rate of insecurity in the city, he said his administration has been making efforts in identifying the buildings in question and engaging their owners.
“About security, I want to tell you, the FCT is the most secure part of Nigeria today. Yes, we have insecurity here and there, it is a reality and it is a phenomenon that affects not just Nigeria but even our sub-region.
“But what I do know is that the security agencies in the FCT are doing extremely well. Because I will say it again for every incident that you read in the papers or you see on social media or listen to on the radio. I tell you 10 to 15 cases have been nipped in the bud that are not out there in the public,” he said.
