FCTA demolishes illegal structures in Mpape, as one month notice expires
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Wednesday, embarked on a demolition exercise of illegal structures erected in the Mpape area of Abuja, following the expiration of a one-month notice it issued to residents and owners.
Over one thousand illegal structures constituting traffic nuisance along the road side were brought down in the exercise which affected areas like Mpape market stretch, Berger Quarry and Katampe Junction.
Briefing journalists after the exercise, Chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Ikharo Attah said that Mpape Residents and Landlords Association six months ago begged the Minister to come to their aid, as illegal commercial activities have taken over the road corridors.
Attah noted that the sanitation and demolition was long overdue and it was targeted at roadside shanties and other unapproved buildings causing obstruction along the road.
”Mpape demolition was requested by the residents and landlords who came to FCTA, requesting the Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello to come and clear the road corridors.
”So what we are doing is in line with the request of the people who want the road corridors to be reclaimed so that there will be ease of movement. As a responsible government, we responded to the cries of the people.
”We gave them enough notice, but many of them were basking in the euphoria that nobody can clear Mpape.
Commenting, Peter Olumuji, from the Department of Security Services, said that many of the shanties and the illegal structures were being occupied by criminal elements.
Olumuji noted that over time, reports have shown that criminal activities were on the increase in Mpape, because of so many shanties providing covers for them.
“This part of Mpape harbours the highest numbers of criminal elements and a lot criminal activities which the residents have been complaining about.
”What the FCTA is doing here today (Wednsday) is to ensure that the mandate of securing the city is carried out,” said Olujimi.
Earlier, the FCTA, with two days left to the expiration of the one-month notice, had Mpape Traders and Artisans operating on roadsides to quit.
Chairman, FCT Ministerial Taskforce on City Sanitation, Mr Ikharo Attah, during an interactive session with newsmen, on Sunday in Abuja, expressed worry that most traders are yet to leave.
”What ones sees in Mpape is painful. They have months to pack and remove their shops and containers from the days Mpape Landlords Association came to plead with the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello.
”We also issued additional two weeks quit notice to enable traders evacuate from the roadside. All these appeared to be falling on deaf ears.
”In most areas like market stretch, Berger Quarry and Katampe Junction over 99 per cent of illegal structures to be cleared are still where they are.
“We know the pain and tears of demolition and that is why we are pleading with them to leave the roadside before the expiration of the quit notice,” Attah said.
The chairman explained that FCTA had enjoined Mpape traders to go off the roadside, shift their containers and illegal shops backward a little but they refused.
Attah noted that Mpape was a gateway to and from Abuja’s main resettlement Community at Shere And Galuwi, hence the need for the road to be cleared of encumbrances.
According to him, along the market stretch, structures within 25 metres from the road shoulders must be removed on both sides.
”We observed that sadly most people have extended shops and structures multiple times to a point where they now sit on the road shoulders.
”Therefore, the planned demolition in Mpape is long overdue. The Landlords, Residents and motorists are daily begging us to come because the traffic gridlock and insecurity is too much for them to shoulder.”