Residents of Katampe Extension, Diplomatic Area in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, to rescue the district from land grabbers who have invaded it.
The president of the Katampe Extension Resident Association, Alhaji Mohammed Gimba, told journalists that the illegal developers had invaded the district taking over all the green areas, open spaces, and buffer zones.
He said the activities have greatly compromised the master plan of the district and made nonsense of the district as a low-density diplomatic zone in the federal capital territory
“For several years now, we have been grappling with the activities of these illegal developers and land grabbers who are hell-bent on destroying the serenity of the district for personal gain. All green areas and open spaces in the district have been carved into plots with the connivance of some FCDA officials.
“As we speak the district does not have a school, hospital, fire service, or even a police station. Areas designated for these facilities and services are under contention and many have been encroached upon. People are laying claims to the land, and some have been illegally built up. The level of impunity is mind-boggling.
“We are making a passionate plea to the honorable minister to come to our aid. The district is designated as a diplomatic zone; it should be an example to other districts in Abuja. Unfortunately, this is not the case. It is gradually becoming a commercial hub and a slum.
“Take a look at ECOWAS estate for instance and see the level of illegal development going on there. Some dubious developers are carving up the hill, blasting the rock to create a link road from Katampe Extension to Dawaki. They want to illegally merge Katampe Extension to Dawaki by creating illegal access through the internal road in ECOWAS estate,” he said.
Gimba said apart from the road they are forcing through ECOWAS estate they are also brazenly building a road directly under the high-tension TCN lines.
“It is absurd what is going on here, and FCDA is doing nothing when the illegality is obvious. We are not even talking of the activities of Mai bola who have a permanent camp in the district and are wreaking havoc on the infrastructure in the district. Crime is rife, and incidences of armed robbery and burglary are rampant. The district is unsafe.
“The FCT minister has shown remarkable grasp and understanding of the challenges of Abuja. We are therefore calling on the honourable minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike to come to our aid and bring sanity to the district. We are hoping he visits the district and sees things for himself,” He said.
Also, the vice president of the Katampe Extension Residents Association, Dr. Austin Maho noted that the former FCT minister, Mohammed Bello had visited the district in September of 2021 and raised eyebrows over illegal development in and around ECOWAS estate and subsequently withdrew all building approvals in affected areas.
“The directives issued by the former minister were ignored by the developers; they even became more brazen after the directive was issued,” he said.
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