The Federal Capital Territory Administration says it will be conducting a verification of all shanties and informal settlements in the FCT, as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate illegal settlements in the nation’s capital.
Already, the Department of Development Control, said it has instructed its officers to begin collation of the list of such settlements, so as to enable government identify and address illegal shanties and settlements harbouring criminal elements.
The Director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the move was part of the administration’s broader strategy to enhance security and orderly development within the FCT.
Galadima who stated this during the removal of illegal shanties and shops at Durumi 1 said, “And looking at the rising insecurity in FCT we were mandated to clear all shanties and squatter settlement in the Federal Capital Territory. So this is in line with the directive given by the FCT Administration.
“The exercise is not limited to the city centre, we are going beyond the city centre but we have a line of direction that is why we are starting from the city centre outward.
“Looking at the rising insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory, we have been mandated to clear all shanties and illegal settlements.
“Where we are clearing now is the continuation of Moshood Abiola way which starts from the International Conference Center runs through Area 10, Area 2 down to Durumi going to games village. You can see this is a road stretch known as Festival Road then.
“The New strategy is that once we clear the place , we handover to responsible agency, if they fail to do their responsibility then they should be blamed not Development Control nor the Taskforce. Like this one now , once we clear it we are going to write to the News Engineering even if it is a temporary road they should make it available to the Public so that these people will not come back again.”
Meanwhile, Secretary, Command and Control, FCTA Department of Security Service, Dr Peter Olumuji, said Durumi has become notorious for illegal buildings especially on road corridors.
“Yes, most of the places we have carried out operation we have recorded a very low crime rate after the clearance of the place and that is why we are also here. Durumi is a popular place and people will attest to it. And as we are here we have contacted the divisional police officer who also has sent personnel here to beef up what we have from the command and control. The crime rate here definitely will reduce to its nearest minimal”.
Speaking on sales of drugs, the secretary said, the NDLEA and the task team have been going round and confiscated substances suspected to be Indian herp.
“That is part of the devices we are talking about because here people have access to any type of drugs. For now we have made three arrested for drugs and obstructing the demolition exercise.
