THE ABUJA Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ordered the demolition of 24 two-storey buildings illegally constructed on a waterway in Guzape District, Abuja.
AMMC Coordinator, Chief Felix Obuah, issued the directive during an inspection tour of various parts of Abuja on Monday, alongside other council officials.
Obuah stated that the affected buildings were developed by Cityscape Estate on Plot 4851 without necessary approvals.
He described the construction as a flagrant violation of planning regulations and vowed that the structures would be removed to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We have mobilised equipment, materials, and machines on-site. These illegal buildings erected without approval will go down,” Obuah said.
“Any other building without proper approval, especially those constructed on waterways or road corridors, will be demolished. It is no longer business as usual; we are committed to restoring Abuja to its original master plan.”
He warned that AMMC officers found complicit in the approval or oversight of the illegal structures would face disciplinary action, stressing that the council would no longer tolerate negligence or sabotage.
“They are receiving salaries and are expected to do their jobs. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is working tirelessly to change the narrative, and we will not allow any disgruntled elements to sabotage those efforts,” Obuah said.
Though the demolition of one structure was carried out on-site, the council granted a two-week grace period, at the developer’s request — for the voluntary removal of all contraventions.
“Failure to comply will result in full-scale demolition,” Obuah warned.
Director of Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, explained that the developer had originally been allocated a plot near the Federal Housing Authority Estate in the area.
However, after part of the land was affected by the proposed S20 road project, additional land was allocated as compensation.
“That compensation does not give the developer the right to build without obtaining proper approval,” Galadima noted.
He said the infractions were discovered two weeks ago during a routine inspection.
“A committee was subsequently set up to investigate the situation, which revealed that construction was ongoing in a valley area — an unacceptable practice under FCTA regulations.
“Our preliminary findings show that the number of buildings on site exceeds the approved number.
“This is a complete violation of the terms of approval,” Galadima added.
Chairman of the FCT Building Contravention Taskforce, Mr Gabriel Musa, revealed that while only 18 buildings were approved, the developer constructed 42, more than double the permitted number.
In response, the developer, Mr Kadiri Obaidi, admitted the infractions and accepted responsibility, attributing some of the unauthorised development to subscribers.
“We have approval for the estate, but many infractions occurred—mostly by our subscribers, for whom we are responsible,” he said.
“We acknowledge the violations and are willing to pull down the illegal structures ourselves within two weeks to salvage some of the materials.”
The council granted his request on the condition that all unauthorised structures are removed at no cost to the government.
Developers To Face Prosecution
Meanwhile the FCTA says it will prosecute any developer caught developing illegal structures on waterways and green areas across the city.
Obuah stated this during a joint inspection of parts of the city on Monday.
During the inspection, Obuah ordered the demolition of a box culvert, illegally constructed on a waterway with the intent to illegally acquire the green area for other purposes without approval.
He said that the structure was illegally constructed by an unidentified Chinese company on Park 293, Utako, by Shehu Yar’Adua Way.
He explained that the green area was located behind a Chinese hotel under construction, adding that the move was allegedly to extend development on the water way illegally.
The coordinator said that erecting structures on waterways was one of the causes of flooding.
“We saw a Chinese company we can’t identify, but people around the area said it was being constructed by a Chinese company that owns the hotel in the front of the green area.
“They trespassed down to the green area in an attempt to illegally acquire it which was not in the approval given to the owner of the hotel,” he said.
Also, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control, FCTA, said that contravention was discovered during a routine inspection of ongoing projects across the city.
Galadima said: “My team and I came to inspect what is going on at the site of the ongoing construction of a hotel by a Chinese company.
“In the process, we noticed the reclamation of the green area and we alerted the council.
“Once we identify the culprit, we will look at the prescribed sanctions that could be applied as punishment to deter others.”
The Director, Parks and Recreation Department, FCTA, Mr Chidemelu Echee, said that the green area was designated as Park 293 in the Abuja Master Plan with a development plan for it.
Echee pointed out that the world was gripling with global warming and expressed dismay that certain individuals were cutting down trees and building concrete on waterways.
“It is unfortunate that some characters could contravene the law and alter the entire ecosystem.
“The waterway is a river that is alive and should not be tampered with “and if you do, then it is a disaster waiting to happen”.
On his part, Mr Osilama Braimah, Director, Abuja Environment Protection Board, described the development as a “great environmental degradation.”
Braimah said that the area was a natural flood plain, adding that “the entire city management plan was to leave them as they were because they helped in maintaining the biodiversity of the city.
“Constructing concrete structures on a green area is out of place and against the master plan”.
Similarly, Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed, acting Director-General, FCT Emergency Management Department, said that no structure built on waterways would be allowed to stand. (NAN)
