Chairman Lugbe Community Development Association Ambassador Prince Mustapha made this call at an event to celebrate this year’s World Habitat day in Abuja.
He said that the theme of this year’s World Habitat day, ‘voices from slums’ created an avenue for community leaders to come together and advise each other on the need to improve on our slums.
He said one of the challenges faced by the community is getting the redesigned plan of Lugbe approved by the FCT minister, which he said, is intended to save the residents from the planned demolition of the area by the FCTA.
“We have agreed that there are some circumstances under which we can qualify Lugbe as a slum. We have gone an extra mile by taking up what is called upgrading plan. We have taken the whole perimeter of the community and we have redesigned the community. Instead of total demolition, the government can approve the upgraded plan. It is going to be a lead way for the government.”
“A team of professionals did the redesign. We work in partnership with both local and international NGOs. The upgrading plan is standard. It will favour the present occupants of Lugbe. They will not be forced away but rather absorbed in the slums upgrading scheme we are canvassing for,” he said.