Demolition: Minister to meet IGP over FCT building rules enforcement

By Stanley Onyekwere

In the wake of the controversial demolition of some buildings belonging to the Police, for allegedly sitting directly under a high-tension power line at Apo Dutse District, Abuja, the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike has disclosed plans to meet with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun over the arrest of FCT officials, who were enforcing relevant building rules.
Wike decried that the buildings were erected despite repeated warnings and the denial of development approval by the FCT Department of Development Control.
Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment of the demolished structures at the weekend, the minister declared that no institution, not even the police, is above the law.
He said: “Well, it’s unfortunate. Yesterday, I got a call from Development Control that they had to come here to stop some buildings from going on.
“You can see the high-tension line, and that is dangerous. The land was given to the Nigerian Police, and they applied for approval, but Development Control refused because of the high-tension risk.”
He lamented that despite the clear directive, construction continued at the site, forcing authorities to step in and bring down the illegal structures.
According to him: “They refused to stop, and Development Control had to act. Unfortunately, our officers were arrested by the Nigerian Police, and that’s why I have to take this matter up with the IGP. I’m sure he may not be aware, but we cannot allow this.
“The government cannot allow anyone to break the rules. Look at the high-tension line.
“How would anybody take such a risk? Even if there was no high-tension line, once you are denied approval, you cannot go ahead as if you are above the law.”
The minister stressed that Abuja’s development standards and safety regulations must be respected, warning that his administration would not hesitate to sanction any defaulter, public or private.
Meanwhile, Director of the Department of Development Control, Tpl. Mukhtar Galadima, who gave further insight into the incident, said the affected property, Plot 189 (B14), Dutse District, was allocated to the Nigerian Police Force for institutional development in 2018.
“The Police approached us for approval to commence development.
“We visited the site, saw the position of the high-tension line, and declined approval.
“Despite our letter and a stop-work notice issued in July, they ignored it and continued excavation”, he stated.
He revealed that the FCT Department of Engineering Services had also informed Development Control of plans to construct a flood-control bridge in the area, further highlighting the dangers of the site.
“Considering the safety risks and future engineering plans, we could not sit back.
“If anything happened, we would be held responsible. That’s why we had to act”, Galadima explained.