After years of procrastinating and playing politics with illegal estates in high-brow areas, the Federal Government has finally made up its mind to embark on mass demolitions in Abuja to protect lives and property. Even a building housing a police station is to be pulled down in the Lugbe District as part of efforts to restore the masterplan which, it says, has been distorted.
Everyday.ng reports that while relevant government agencies have often not batted their eyelids in pulling down structures and homes in low-income areas and slums from time to time in Abuja, the agencies always foot-drag where estates, which land were parcelled by the Federal Government, are more often than not left untouched.
Flooding, according to a report, has made it imperative that the demolitions take place in Lugbe, Kubwa, and Lokongoma, after embarrassing photos and videos put a lie to the narrative by Abuja developers that the Federal Capital City does not have physical planning aberrations found in other parts of Nigeria.
According to Abuja Digest, a publication of the governing authority of Abuja, in order to permanently resolve the perennial flooding in parts of Abuja, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has said it would embark on demolition of all structures on waterways in the city.
Some of the affected areas include estates located in parts of Lokogoma, Lugbe and Kubwa.
Recall that over 116 structures were submerged by flood in Trademore Estate, killing two people and destroying many property.
Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, who disclosed this over the weekend, explained that the structures were obstructing natural course of water and preventing its free flow thereby leading to the persistent flooding incidents.
He said: “People are clamoring that we act quickly and take tough decisions to save lives. And this is what we must do. We cannot act as though we don’t see this man-made problem caused by those who violate the Abuja Master Plan.”
“Buildings in Trademore Estate had been severally marked for demolition. Warnings have been given year after year but the occupants of the estate keep risking their lives and those of others,” the Executive Secretary said.
His words: “By declaring Trademore a disaster zone, we have told the residents there to evacuate. The area is in a low-line zone, which is not safe. Flooding can come at any time. They know this and have been experiencing it over the years”.
Ahmad, who is also Chairman, Ministerial Task Team on Flood Mitigation, revealed that a Police station in Trademore would be demolished among other buildings.
“The Police station in Trademore will be demolished. It will go alongside other buildings. We have engaged the FCT Police command and have provided a suitable place for them to operate from and fight crime,” he stressed.
This is as he disclosed that Trademore Estate does not have required approved building plan; adding that the continuously flooded areas could best be left as Green areas and not residential.
▪︎ Additional report by Wisdom Acka for Abuja Digest.