FCTA begins demolition of houses on waterways

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun the demolition of over 100 buildings constructed on waterways at Dutse Makaranta, a suburb in Bwari Area Council.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement Mr Ikharo Attah led the demolition team to the area.

Attah said the demolition became necessary following the failure of the residents to heed all warnings over the devastating forecast on flooding disaster in Abuja.

He said it would be very irresponsible for any government to wait for residents who were not willing to obey extant directives.

He said the FCT Administration could no longer wait for unwilling residents to comply with early warnings to save lives after the destructive flooding that occurred in the community four days ago.

Attah, who expressed disgust that occupiers and owners of the buildings on waterways had refused to heed to warnings, said the administration was wielding the big stick to save lives, property and the environment.

Attah said the owners and occupiers of the buildings on the waterways had been asked to leave the area but refused to comply, hence the forceful ejection.

He said he was particularly bitter that some of the illegal buildings were private schools, churches where innocent children, wards and worshipers would have been swept away had the flooding occurred on working days or even during religious feast.

Attah said the FCTA had marked the buildings from foundation level and they had been warned to leave the area “because it is a disaster zone.”

A resident of the community, Ibrahim Shaibu confirmed that those affected by the demolition were aware that the area was prone to flooding, but ignored all warnings.

Shaibu, who said he had lived in the community for about 20 years, acknowledged that the flooding that occurred four days ago was unprecedented, but thanked God that no life was lost.

He said the indigenous people should be blamed for whatever destruction the flooding had caused as they had continued to resell the place after each demolition exercise.