The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday demolished 11 duplexes in the Dutse District of Abuja for violating city planning regulations by being constructed directly under high-tension power lines and along a stream channel.
The enforcement exercise, led by the Director of the Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, followed several ignored stop-work notices and warnings issued to the developer over the illegal structures.
Speaking during the operation, Galadima explained that the affected properties were located on Garba Duba Street, a part of the second phase of the Federal Capital City, close to Cedarcrest and Amina Court.
He said the developer went ahead with construction despite being denied building plan approval due to the land’s unsafe location.
“Yes, this is a statutorily allocated plot to the developer. They requested approval, but we declined because it’s close to a high-tension line and a stream channel. Despite that, they proceeded to build,” Galadima said.
He disclosed that the FCTA had repeatedly served notices from the excavation stage, even sending written directives for work to stop, but the developer disregarded all official communications.
According to him, the engineering department of the FCTA also raised concerns that the developer planned to construct bridges across the stream, prompting immediate action to prevent further environmental and safety violations.
READ ALSO: FCTA Moves to Demolish Shanties Threatening Security, Projects
While noting that the land was originally allocated legally, Galadima said the FCTA might consider giving the developer an alternative plot elsewhere. However, he stressed that no compensation would be paid for the demolished buildings.
“Compensation is only given for approved properties affected by development. In this case, there was no approval, and the developer was warned multiple times to stop,” he stated.
Galadima also warned future developers to respect FCTA notices to avoid financial losses.
“Once you are served a stop-work notice, you should halt development immediately. If you don’t, we’ll allow you to waste your money and bring the structure down,” he cautioned.
He further revealed that the administration was considering a new regulation to compel owners of illegal structures to pay fines for violating city planning laws, emphasizing that the FCTA remained committed to maintaining safety standards and environmental integrity in the nation’s capital.