A total of 500 illegal structures at Dutsen-Garki area of Apo District have been marked for demolition later next week, the FCTA Department of Development Control has revealed.
Director of the department, Mukhtar Galadima, at a dialogue meeting with Dutsen-Garki natives, said the administration is worried about the rising number of Individuals acquiring land from the Abuja Original Inhabitants without approval.
Galadima, who spoke through the deputy director, monitoring and enforcement, Hassan Ogbole, said the practice was unacceptable and the administration would not spare any land or structure without approval from the constituted authorities.
The director issued a two weeks ultimatum to the representative of the natives, to carry the message back to their people to avoid being taken unawares.
“In line with the FCTA reform agenda, before we embark on any removal we have to consult with the natives, so that we don’t take them unawares. The city is grappling with individuals acquiring lands from natives without FCT Administration approval, it is unacceptable to the government, this must not continue.
“We have instances of recent removals that have been carried out in some areas which is still in progress, there are many other illegal settlements in line, IEA in Dutsen-Garki which we just held a meeting about. We have a pending removal there to carry out because people we come, and buy from the natives, and deny the original allottees from taking over possession.
“In line with the FCTA reform agenda, before we embark on any removal we have to consult with the natives, so that we don’t take them unaware.”
Galadima said the officials of the department will use two weeks to mark the illegal structures before embarking on the full demolition exercise.
In his remarks, the deputy director monitoring and enforcement Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Kaka Bello, said the illegalities were affecting the environment and would not be allowed to remain.
