ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, demolished a multimillion-naira duplex in Wuse Zone 6 on Monday, August 28, 2023, citing illegal construction on an unapproved plot.
The demolition comes just a week after the new Minister of the FCT, Barr. Nyesome Wike, assumed office and threatened to take action against illegal structures.
Mr. Mukhtar Gidado, Director of the Department of Development Control, stated that the building had been developed in violation of multiple warnings and without proper title and building plan approval.
Investigation Confirms Illegal Construction
Gidado said his team had carried out an exhaustive investigation to ascertain the original owner of the plot, due to conflicting claims made by various parties. “The investigation revealed that the developer was not the rightful owner of the plot. That’s why we had to remove the building,” he said.
No Exemptions for Violators
According to Gidado, the FCTA is not lenient toward defaulting developers, regardless of their status, when development rules and regulations are broken.
“We demolished the duplex because someone built it on someone else’s land, without having a valid title or building plan approval,” Gidado explained.
Following Due Process
He emphasized that the demolition was carried out after following all due processes, including issuing multiple notices to the supposed owner of the building to cease work.
“Being a disobedient developer, he continued without heeding the notices,” Gidado said.
“After ascertaining the rightful allottee of the plot, we had no option but to remove the building. We will consult our legal department to determine the next course of action against the developer,” he added.
This development marks one of the first significant actions taken by the new Minister of FCT, Barr. Nyesome Wike, who has pledged to take a hard stance against illegal constructions and violations of land use regulations in the Federal Capital Territory.
