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The Federal Capital Territory Administration on Wednesday demolished about 2,000 illegal structures in Mpape community.
The Chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Ikharo Attah, said the demolition was meant to sanitise the area.
He added that residents and landlords had appealed to the minister for the demolition, stating that the illegal structures at the roadside were obstructing the free movement of human and vehicles in the area.
He said, “Mpape demolition is requested by the residents and landlords who came to FCTA, requesting the Minister, Muhammad Bello, to come and clear the road corridors.
“So, what we are doing is in line with the request of the people who want the road corridors to be reclaimed so that there will be ease of movement. As a responsible government, we responded to the cries of the people.
“The sanitation and demolition were long overdue and were targeted at roadside shanties and other unapproved buildings causing obstruction along the road
“We gave them enough notice, but many of them were basking in the euphoria that nobody can clear Mpape.
Also speaking, Peter Olumuji, from the Department of Security Services, said that many of the shanties and the illegal structures demolished were being occupied by criminals.
Olumuji noted that over time, reports have shown that criminal activities were on the increase in Mpape, because of so many shanties providing covers for them.
He said, “This part of Mpape harbours the highest number of criminal elements and a lot of criminal activities which the residents have been complaining about.
“What the FCTA is doing here today is to ensure that the mandate of securing the city is carried out.”
Some residents of the area affected by the demolition however claimed that adequate notice was not given to them.
“I heard that they gave three-day notice which is very short. They came in today and bulldozed everywhere. As I talk to you now, I don’t have a roof over my head and I don’t even know where I will pass the night,” one of them said
