By Sarah NEGEDU
Again, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has decried the unapproved expansion of local communities in the territory, insisting that most of such developments were done in connivance with local Chiefs who illegally sell lands without government’s approval.
Specifically, the administration condemned the pace of expansion along the Airport Road, warning that such venture amounts to waste of resources as government will not hesitate to remove any such building that contravenes government’s approval.
Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, at an interactive meeting with Traditional and community leaders from over 10 villages said Zamani village, where illegal structures have been marked for demolition, is one of the places where some residents have disregarded government’s warning to embark on unapproved expansion.
He said the renewed massive demolition of illegal structures in some of the communities along the Airport road, was because some residents were embarking on illegal expansion of the areas by selling land without government’s approval.
While expressing displeasure that residents were forcing government to spend scarce resources on demolition exercise, the minister’s aide vowed that enforcement orders will not abate until environmental sanity was restore to all parts of the territory.
Attah, while reiterating that the houses of the indigenous people located within the approved areas won’t be demolished, said that all the structures on the illegal expansion would be pulled down.
He explained that the essence of holding meetings with traditional and community leaders of the affected places, was to ensure that ensure proper sensitization, as well as galvanize support.
Also Speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Community Relations, Ishaku Yamawo, called on the various community leaders to desist from all negative activities that will attract punitive measures from government.
Yamawo also assured the leaders that indigenous peoples houses would not be affected in the demolition exercise.
According to him, the administration was working on modalities of providing more basic amenities in the communities, but needs the cooperation of the residents.
