According to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), 5,000 illegal structures on unlicensed lots have been destroyed in Abuja’s Gishiri Village Extension, Katampe District.
Mr. Samson Atureta, District Monitor, Katampe and Mabushi, Development Control Department of the FCTA, stated that the decision was made to remove all unapproved buildings and structures for the legal allottees in the area during the ongoing demolition of unapproved buildings and structures in the community.
The exercise, he said, was around 60 to 70% complete and would guarantee rigorous adherence to the Abuja Master Plan. Atureta continued by saying that the enforcement team adhered to the law and obtained the appropriate permits to demolish any unauthorized structures on encroached land in the neighborhood.
He said;
“So far, we have demolished at least 5,000 unapproved buildings on illegal plots in Gishiri. People were allocated land in the area but could not take possession of the plots because some persons have been selling parts of the plots to unsuspecting residents who were building on them.
“Those are the houses that we are removing so that the rightful allottees will take ownership of their plots. As you can see, there are some new perimeter fences being built by the rightful allottees of the plots.”
Atureta also revealed that the Development Control Department has also reclaimed a hectre of land around the foot of Katampe hill, designated as a green area for recreation.