The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished over 15,000 illegal buildings and shanties in Gwarinpa district of the FCT.
FCT director of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, who spoke to journalists during the demolition exercise, explained that the illegal buildings obstructed arterial Road N16, that ran from the Federal Secretariat, through Maitama, Katampe, Jahi and then to Gwarinpa.
Galadima said that the Engineering Department of the FCTA was ready to begin construction on the road as soon as the demolition was completed, and that the construction of the road had already been awarded.
“This location that we are on is a road corridor, its an arterial road that is called N16, but on the other side of the city, this is the road that is named the Shehu Shagari Way. So, it starts from Federal Secretariat, through Maitama, Katampe, Jahi and then to Gwarinpa.
“As I said, these are structures that were illegally built on the road corridor. That is why we are coming to remove them because Engineering Department will start the road construction right away. That is why we have to remove the obstacles that are preventing them from the road construction.
“Well, they are being relocated somewhere else, but we have over 10,000 to 15,000 people who are staying here illegally. As we are clearing now, engineering is already on standby. The contract has been awarded.
“They are on standby, they wrote to us that they want us to clear this corridor for them, so that the road construction can commence. So they will not come back to this place again,” he added.
The secretary, FCT Command and Control Center, Peter Olumuji, also told journalists that the demolished shanties had become notorious for harbouring criminals, that the demolition would bring about better security for those residing in Gwarimpa and its environs.
“The shanties we have here that you have seen physically harbour a lot of criminal elements that have been terrorising Gwarinpa and its environs.
“You have issues of illicit drug dealing, you have issues of rape of the girl-child, you have issues of different kind of armed robbery suspects that have been arrested within.
“There is a place even called the Abacha Estate, which the Police have recovered arms and ammunition in times past. So, this demolition is going to bring about better security for those who are residing within Gwarimpa and its environs,” Olumuji said.
