Business
Demolition: FCTA Dept To Dialogue With Parties
The Department of Devel
opment Control of the Federal Capital Territory (FCTA) has resolved to engage more residents of the territory in dialogue and sensitisation to reduce the rate of demolition of structures.
The Acting Director of the department, Malam Hamza Madaki, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
He said that the Department had resorted to organising town hall meetings in some FCT communities to sensitise residents and indigenes about proper steps to take in constructing their structures.
“ According to him, it is usually not in our interest to carry out demolition of structures unless it is extremely necessary.
“Abuja is a planned capital city which is supposed to serve as a pride of our great country and if we allow uncontrolled construction, it will become an eyesore.
“What we are trying to do is to sensitise residents and indigenes on proper steps to take so we don’t have to demolish anyone’s structure.”
The director said that the Department had marked some buildings for demolition in Katampe area of Abuja due to unapproved expansion and advised owners of the marked structures to remove them by themselves so as to salvage some valuable materials.
He added that it was illegal for indigenes who were given certain privileges in terms of building approval to sell plots and expand their communities.
“He said, recently, we marked some houses for demolition at Katampe due to such illegal expansion.
“We have advised owners of those structures to remove them by themselves so that they can salvage some valuable materials that can still but useful.
“We do not demolish houses belonging to indigenes who have not been relocated but it is illegal for such indigenes to keep expanding and selling land in such communities.
“We do not derive pleasure from demolishing people’s houses, but development in the FCT just has to be controlled,’’ he said.
The acting director advised residents of the FCT to always cooperate with the Department and to get proper counselling and approvals before embarking on construction.