FCTA clears 700 structures on flood plains

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Tuesday cleared over 700 illegal structures built on flood plains in Kado, Raya and Angwan Makabarta under Life Camp District in Abuja.

The structures, which were erected in swampy areas, housed over 1,000 petty traders, comprising young men and women and the elderly.

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Addressing newsmen shortly after the exercise, Mr Ihkaro Attah, Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, said the operation was in compliance with ministerial directive.

Attah revealed that the area had already been marked for demolition since April, this year but that the inhabitants of the illegal structures refused to comply with the notice issued to them.

He said, “The FCT minister gave the matching order to rid the city of criminals which led to the massive operation in the city

“This illegal settlement is disturbing the neighborhood and the entire Life Camp to Kado area, with some criminals extending up to Idu, Karmo and several other areas far off from here.

“So, today we came to remove the entire structures here because about 85 per cent of them sit on flood plains, and the ones we are removing today are sitting right on a road corridor.”

 A resident of the area, Mr Ibrahim Salisu, a labourer, who expressed sadness over the exercise, alleged that their leaders collected N1,000 from over 500 of them.

He said, “The FCTA gave us notice to vacate this place about three months ago, but on Monday, October 3, in  evening our leaders came and asked us to contribute N1,000 each, assuring us that they would give the money to officials of the FCTA to prevent them from going on with the demolition.” Also, a 90-year-old woman, Aisha Wase, said that she had been in the area since the return of democracy in 1999.

She said, “We are appealing to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, to consider us in the resettlement scheme so that we can have roof over our heads.”