FCTA demolishes 11 duplexes in Dutse District

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has demolished 11 duplexes in the Dutse District of Abuja for being built under high-tension wires and along a stream channel.

Leading the operation on Thursday, the Director of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, said that the developer had ignored several notices to stop the construction, eventually prompting the action of the FCTA.

“This is Garba Duba Street, within the Dutse District of Abuja, Federal Capital City. That’s Phase Two of the Federal Capital City, not far away from the popular Cedarcrest, as well as Amina Court. So, we’re here this morning to enforce our notices being served.

“Yes, this is a statutorily allocated plot to the developer. They requested approval and applied for building plan approval, which we declined because it’s in proximity to a high-tension line, as well as a stream channel. So, we declined to approve, but they moved ahead to work.

“We have been serving notices, even from the excavation stage. At various stages of development, we’ve been serving notices, and we even communicated to them in writing that the work should be stopped. But unfortunately, maybe considering their institution and agency, they moved on,” Galadima said.

According to him, the engineering department of the FCTA reported an intent by the developer to build bridges, prompting the immediate decision to demolish.

He added that the administration would provide an alternative plot for the developer, even though the original plot was statutorily allocated.

Galadima further explained that the FCT Administration was mulling a law that would require contravening land owners and developers to pay a fine after the property had been demolished.

The Director stated that the developer would not be paid any compensation for the demolition, as they did not have the approval to build.