The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has razed numerous illicit residential structures and extensions within Gishiri village at Katampe District of the FCT, as part of its determination to reclaim encroached plots of land for the rightful owners to take possession of.
Officials of the Development Control Department of the FCTA, along with joint security personnel, were observed storming the area with two bulldozers, demolishing the structures illegally erected inside individuals’ plots of land and right of way, for residential and commercial purposes, including educational and religious purposes.
While some of the affected individuals lamented that they just completed payment for their rent barely one week ago, others claimed that the landlords demanded rent payment prior to the demolition of their structures.
Furthermore, it was noted that the owners of the legally allocated plots of land have begun taking possession by erecting perimeter fences around their respective plots, as encouraged by the FCTA.
The district monitor of Katampe and Mabushi Districts of the FCT, Town Planner Samson Atureta, explained during the ongoing demolition exercise that the extensions were actually constructed on legally allocated plots in the area.
“There are numerous unlawful developments and village extensions, which is why we had to clear them as these extensions are actually on people’s legally allocated plots of land.
“Therefore, our objective here is to ensure the removal of all village extensions, while being cautious not to disturb the inhabited houses of the locals.
“Due to bureaucratic procedures, it may take time for the government to reach this point. However, today is one of those days that they are here. We cannot avoid it as these extensions must be removed, allowing the legal owners to take possession of ideally allocated plots,” he said.
One of the impacted individuals, who identified herself as Mama Blessing and operates a drinking joint in the area, lamented: “Although we anticipated that they would come and do something like this, they should have given us sufficient time to leave and find another place.
“As for me, I am still searching for a place to relocate, but I appeal to the government to assist us in finding a new location. The suffering is unbearable. We are not contesting the demolition exercise, as we are aware that it is government land. However, please grant us more time to vacate, as it is not easy to suddenly leave this place, especially without another place to go,” she declared.