By David Olu
Demolitions of property in Abuja have continued to generate ripples, with victims saying the exercise is compounding their suffering.
This is even as the FCT Administration has confirmed that over 20,432 structures were pulled down in 2024.
The Director of the Department of Development Control, Tpl. Mukhtar Usman Galadima, who made this known at an award night for staff members, said the action was taken to sustain the integrity of the Abuja Master Plan.
But many victims of the exercise have described the action as not only “Ill-timed,” but also “wicked”.
Report said that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had prioritised revenue generation through land administration, with specific focus on payments from ground rents and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
Wike, since inception, has spent millions of naira on newspaper publication on the title owners, who have allegedly failed to pay for either ground rents or the C of O.
His administration has revoked land titles and demolished many structures it said were illegally built and those whose owners failed to develop within the stipulated period or did not have necessary documents.
There were outcries two months ago when the FCT Administration demolished 50 duplexes and bungalows at Sabon Lugbe. Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Department of Development Control, said the structures were illegally erected by land grabbers without approval of appropriate authorities.
But Home Builders Association of Nigeria (HBAN), property developers and part-owners of property in Sabon Lugbe accused the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) of deliberately wanting to confiscate their land and redesigning the area.
The chairman of the association, Engr Isaac Omolua, alleged that FCDA and its agents had been subjecting them to intimidation and fear by vandalising the property of his members.
A resident, Azuka Biose, alleged that the FCTA did the same with Centenary City as the authorities said it was for public overriding interest.
“At the end of the day, we learned it wasn’t for public overriding interest. It’s owned by one person. For 14 years now, we’ve not been given our property or anything to show. Every day, they have been doing layout for us; but we have not seen anyone.
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