Insecurity: FCTA Seals Off Abandoned Building In Maitama

In a bid to ensure the security of lives and property of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Department of Development Control has sealed off a massive uncompleted 3-storey building located at plot 22 Cadastral zone, A05, Udi Hills Street in Maitama district of the FCT.

Sealing off the building which has been reportedly abandoned and poses security threats to residents of the area, followed the directive of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, who personally led a team of FCTA and security officials to the location on Tuesday.

The minister who was accompanied by the coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, and the solicitor-general of the FCTA, Garduya Bawa Ganiya, the assistant commissioner of Police in charge of operations in the FCT, Mr. MB Magawata, and other officials of the FCTA, took a detailed tour of the building which also has a basement parking area.

In the course of inspecting the structure, evidence of unwholesome activities was discovered and some squatters who were found in the building were immediately apprehended by security operatives.

Bello reiterated the commitment of the FCT administration to ensuring the safety of all residents of the nation’s capital and said that steps would be taken to ensure that abandoned and uncompleted buildings within the city do not pose threats to residents.

The coordinator of AMMC while carrying the minister’s directive of sealing the building yesterday, said integrity tests would be carried out on the structure, and if it failed the test,  its allocation would be revoked and the building pulled down.

Also, the director, Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, explained that the administration in the past met with owners of abandoned buildings in the territory and agreed that they would conduct intercity tests and complete them.

In his remarks, the assistant commissioner of police said that the squatters apprehended in the building would be questioned to ascertain their true identities and reasons for being in the building.