By Ismail Shuaib
ABUJA: The Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA on Thursday demolished 11 duplexes in Apo-Dutse District, Abuja, citing violations of city planning regulations and dangerous construction under high-tension power lines and across stream channels.
Leading the demolition exercise, Mukhtar Galadima, Director of the Department of Development Control, said the developers had repeatedly ignored warnings and official stop-work notices.
“They requested for approval and applied for building plan approval, which we declined because of the proximity to high-tension lines and a stream channel. Despite that, they moved ahead with construction. We served them notices from the excavation stage and at every stage of development, but they ignored us,” Galadima said.
Galadima warned that the FCTA will no longer tolerate such blatant disregard for safety and planning laws.
“If you don’t respect the laws, we will allow you to waste your money and then bring the structures down. So long as you intend to develop in FCT, once you are served notice, please stop. Come for clarification whether to proceed or not,” he cautioned.
He disclosed that the administration is moving beyond demolition to introduce financial penalties for erring developers. Under Nigeria’s urban and regional planning law, those whose illegal structures are demolished may soon be required to pay surcharges to cover the cost of mobilization.
“Not only will your illegal structure be demolished, you will also pay for the cost of mobilization. Whatever structure has been demolished has to pay penalties. We are putting mechanisms in place to enforce this,” he explained.
Galadima further revealed that the demolished site on Garba Duba Street in Dutse District is a statutory allocation. This, he said, means the administration could consider providing alternative plots to the institution involved—if it formally applies.
However, he stressed that such accommodation does not excuse the illegality of building without approval.
“Nobody is above the law. Whether you are an individual, an agency, or an institution, the regulations of the Federal Capital City must be respected,” he declared.
