Demolition: Builders Lament Harassment By FCDA

Home Builders Association of Nigeria (HBAN) in the Federal Capital Territory, has expressed frustration over the continued harassment and demolition of their properties by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

The association’s chairman, Prince Engr Isaac Omolua, voiced their plight at a press conference recently in Abuja.

He alleged that FCDA and its agents had been subjecting them to intimidation and fear by vandalising the property of their members.

He said that FCDA had been trying to grab the association’s land by devising different strategies, including the proposed redesigning of the layout.

“Despite several communications with FCDA through its legal adviser, Nicholas Elechi & Co., notifying them of the existence of a layout since 1998, the FCDA is trying to distort and redesign it for pecuniary reasons,” he said.

Engr. Omolua added that the FCDA had scuttled all efforts to address the issue peacefully and now resorted to arm-twisting tactics by demolishing the property of the members.

He said the FCDA has unanswered questions about the reason for redesigning Sabon Lugbe Southwest Layout.

The association chairman said, “As believers in the present Tinubu Renewed Hope policy to develop the country, we have written several letters to the FCDA to remind them of the existing layout without response.

“It’s unfortunate that despite our peaceful approach, believing that Nigeria is our country and we have nowhere else to run to, many already developed houses have been affected by the FCDA demolition. We are talking about over N500m to N800m worth of property already destroyed.”

He also sought the intervention of the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, advising him not to allow certain officials of FCDA to mislead him.