Hundreds homeless as FCTA demolishes 473 structures

The Federal Capital Territory Administration on Wednesday demolished over 473 illegal structures at Iddo Sarki community in Abuja.

Wednesday’s exercise was in addition to a similar one carried out in the community on Saturday.

In the exercise, no fewer than 137 illegal structures were brought down, including hostels, hotels, shops, kiosks and make shift eateries.

The demolition was carried out under the watchful eyes of armed security personnel.

The Chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Ikharo Attah, said the exercise was necessary in order to maintain the Abuja Master Plan.

He said, “We came back here because we did not finish the clean-up. We noticed that the land use vontraventions have been very high and disturbing. So, we had to come back here today to continue the clean-up.”

Attah also hinted that similar clean up would be carried out on illegal structures in Mpape, Dutse Makaranta, Ushafa and others areas.

He Secretary, Command and Control Centre, FCT, Peter Olumuji, also said, “One of the reasons why we are here is because such places hibernate criminals because they can get cheaper houses to rent.

“We have had a sustained clean-up operation on the airport road and this has led to reduction in the rate of crime and criminality in the FCT.”