Demolition: FCTA takes sensitisation to illegal settlements

By Stanley Onyekwere

In the bid to effectively ensure total removal of illegal structures especially shanties, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA has started sensitising resident of illegal settlements to move out, before the bulldozers are rolled out to clear the menace.
This was disclosed by Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Development Control Department who led the team of enforcers to Mabushi District, yesterday, where an illegal poultry farm was removed, after the owners were allowed to remove their birds.
Also, at Jahi District, where a notorious building material market was visited, Angwan Salama settlement located on a road corridor with over grown trees in a slum where a huge population was noticed, Galadima briefed the community members on the need to relocate before the bulldozers come the next day.
It was gathered that Angwan Salama, described as where babies make babies had a heavy population large population of children; and women of easy virtue domiciled in some drinking joints with youths, who are suspected of drug dealings.
Speaking at the sidelines of the exercise, Galadima explained that the exercise was part of the city manager’s strategy of sanitation and clearing shanties all over the city.
He said: “Since they return each time we remove them, the way forward is to go back to the drawing board to see the best strategy. Depending on out come of our discussion, we will do a proposal to the the minister, if approved, the culprits may be arrested because it’s posing serous problem I’m terms of city management, security and health challenges.
“As we go to discuss, we will look at the best way to sustain this exercise, so that they don’t come back after removal.”
On the change of strategy to inform them to remove their valuables, Galadima said: “We are engaging the citizens, there is need to tell the people why you are doing what you are doing, so that they will not see it in bad light.
“The people were happy for giving them the chance to say their minds and their side of the story. We needed to carry them along. When they fail to cooperate is when we show the high handedness.
“We have given them time to remove their valuables. At the Arterial corridor, M12 behind Kado Naval estate, we are going there tomorrow (Wednesday). We are dedicating one week there, to remove every illegality.
“We will remove those speculative trees, because they are giving cover to people of the underworld.”
Also speaking, Secretary, FCT Command and Control Centre, Peter Olumuji,confirmed that two persons were arrested for drug possession in Anguan Salama.
“The NDLEA in the team made some seizure. Most of the places we visited are shanties and settlements on road corridors that are not mention to be.
“Most of the people living in those settlements are involved in one crime or atrocity or the other. We have children growing up I these areas; the girl child is in danger of being g molested molestedt the boy child is in danger of being introduced to drugs at an early age, the parents have lost hope of the future of their children.
“By this planned holistic removal, those vices will be removed. We also noticed that those shanties have become safe havens for criminals, who operate and rub people in Gwarinpa, Manushi and other locations and back to hibernate there.
“Once these places are removed, crime within the FCT will be reduced. No government will allow this to happen within the city.
“We arrested 2 and there are with the NDLEA officials in the team.
Kaka Bello, Head, Enforcement of Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB noted that farming within the city is illegal and the reason why they were doing the needful by removing Poultries from unauthorized places.
“Scavengers are setting up illegal settlements within the city, this is a violation of the AEPB Act. We term them as illegal waste collectors, those cashew plantations habouring them is equally illegal.
We appeal to natives who like planting high crops to desist from doing so, because henceforth action will be taken, so also poultry farming within the city. Farmers should take advantage of designated land use spaces,” he stressed.