Illegal construction: FCTA demolishes high-rise buildings

No fewer than 11-storey buildings comprising three- and four-bedroom flats were demolished on Thursday in Apo-Dutse by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director of the Department of Development Control, FCTA, said the demolition followed the developer’s failure to abide by building regulations and a disregard for all communications and notices.

Galadima explained that the demolition became necessary due to the estate’s location.

According to him, the estate was not only situated under a high-tension power line but also obstructed the route of a planned bridge in the area.

He noted that although the developers were allocated the plot, the allocation was done erroneously.

He added that the developers had been offered the opportunity for an alternative plot allocation. However, they had yet to accept the offer and instead proceeded with the unauthorised development.

“This is a statutorily allocated plot. They requested approval and applied for building plan approval, which we declined because it is in close proximity to a high-tension line and a stream channel.

“So, we declined to grant approval, but they went ahead with the construction.

“We have served them with notices, even from the excavation stage through various stages of development. We even issued written communications instructing them to stop the work.

“But unfortunately, perhaps considering the status of their institution or agency, they proceeded regardless,” he explained.

Galadima further said that the Engineering Department of the FCDA had written to his department regarding plans to construct a bridge at that section of the district.

“So, there’s nothing we can do about this,” he added.

The director ruled out the possibility of compensation for the demolished buildings.

According to him, compensation is only given to properties that have been approved and are later affected by development processes.

He stated that in the case of the demolished property, there was no valid approval.

Galadima also hinted at the possibility of prosecuting the defaulting developers and requiring them to pay penalties, including the cost of demolition.

(NAN)