Nigeria In One Minute
FCT demolishes 500 structures in Abuja, renders many homeless
The Federal Capital Territory Administration on Tuesday demolished about 500 structures in Paipe community near Idu-Karmo, Abuja.
The exercise rendered many residents homeless, many of whom were seen salvaging some valuables from the rubble.
It was learnt that a large percentage of the residents were away at work when the caterpillars pulled down the structures and destroyed personal effects and home appliances estimated at millions of naira.
A victim of the demolition, Madam Nkechi Kenneth, accused the FCT Administration of illegally demolishing her property which she said was built about two years ago.
She explained that she was at the Karmo market when a neighbour informed her on the phone that her house had been demolished. She added that she fainted twice on hearing the news.
“I fainted twice when I heard that my house had been brought down; They have destroyed everything I had, now I don’t know where I would sleep this night with my children. They didn’t care whether people were in the buildings or not, they simply pulled down the buildings; what they did was not normal at all,” Kenneth stated.
Victor Daniel said he too was not at home when his building was brought down, adding that property worth millions of naira was affected.
He explained that the people were informed that the site was meant for a road, noting that they were not issued any notice of demolition.
“I lost my fridge, freezer, plasma television, I lost a lot of things, I lost everything and I am not the only one, all my neighbours were also affected. Even if they wanted to construct a road as they claimed, can’t they give us notice? Over 500 buildings were affected,” he stated.
The spokesperson, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Mrs. Grace Zamani said she was not aware of the demolition.
Punch, November 21, 2017
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seyi jelili
November 22, 2017 at 3:25 am
But why this? Do government knows what it means to demolish people houses, if government can’t help to douse its citizens plights then,they shouldn’t add to it.
JOHNSON PETER
November 22, 2017 at 3:35 am
God is not sleeping, most of these people who their houses were demolished will never get themselves again in life, some will even die of hypertension, and the funny thing is that, government will never compensate them.
Balarabe musa
November 22, 2017 at 3:41 am
Stop blaming the government, mind you there was a warning before the demolition , but Nigerians don’t heed warning.
yanju omotodun
November 22, 2017 at 5:46 am
Hear that nonsense from you, why didn’t the government notify or warn them before the foundation of their houses?
Anita Kingsley
November 22, 2017 at 9:31 am
This isn’t bullying! The federal government have no right at all to demolish properties without informing the owners. If the properties were placed on illegal land, courtesy still demands the federal government informs those occupying the properties before destroying them.
Animashaun Ayodeji
November 22, 2017 at 10:01 am
It’s a bug pity, this was done in Lagos too during Fashola’s regime and the residents got nothing in return. They lost their properties and the court couldn’t rescue many of them.
Abeni Adebisi
November 22, 2017 at 10:08 am
This tells a lot about the quality of Nigeria’s judiciary! If the people cannot be protected by the court of law, who will?
Abeni Adebisi
November 22, 2017 at 10:07 am
Did those people not do the survey of the lands they bought before erecting buildings on them? There are ways of determining how safe a land is before buying lands in Nigeria. I’m surprised people are still buying government lands.