Barely two years after a major demolition exercise that hit the slums dotting the landscape of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), more residents are now at their wits end as more 19 communities have been penciled down for demolition by the Development Control department of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). CHIKA OKEKE who visited some selected villages reports that illegal structures and shanties in Mpape are currently being marked down with the ‘X’ sign, while other residents are still nervous about the demolition saga.
His countenance was frightening yet Mr. Osaro Aimufua summoned courage to attend the weekly meeting. He was seriously pondering if any miracle could reverse the ugly scenario when he accidentally voiced out.
Though a resident of Mpape in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Aimufua who appeared to be in his late forties is an employee of one of the Private Firms in Abuja.
He could no longer hide his predicament but confided in LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that barely one month after he moved into his new apartment, the house would be affected by the impending demolition exercise by the FCTA.
Aimufua who is happily married with four children tells his story, “Because the old house where I used to live in Mpape was not too conducive for me and my family, I had to run around to look for an alternative accommodation.
Finally, I got a one-bedroom apartment still at Mpape but I could not raise money to pay for the rent. Since my salary was not much, I told my wife to apply for a loan in her office so that we could raise enough money to offset the rent, it worked out and we borrowed the sum of N250, 000. But that was not enough for the rent because the landlord pegged the price at N350,000 per annum.
He continued, “After several attempts to secure a loan in the organisation where I work failed, the only option was to borrow from a friend that managed to squeeze out N50,000. I gathered the whole money and paid the landlord the sum of N300,000 remaining a balance of N50,000. God helped me and we moved into the new apartment on June this year.
“I have only spent one month in the new house only for me to return back from work to see that the house was marked ‘X’ for demolition by the Development Control Department of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council.
It was very shocking that I dashed into my landlord’s apartment to confirm the unfortunate incident. Hear the landlord’s statement, “Yes when I tried to confront them, they said that nothing can rescind the decision because they were doing their work and will not like anybody to be a stumbling block to them”.
On whether he asked the landlord to refund the balance so that he could relocate to another area, he smiled but apparently with suppressed anger and said: “The man claimed that it is not his fault and there is no way he can raise or refund that amount of money now because he spent it immediately he collected it.
“Now, I am confused because I don’t know how to raise another money and what will happen the next minute. This dilemma is deeply affecting my emotions and at the same time, threatening my work. I am only pleading with the development Control to rescind its earlier order”, he concluded.
Mr. Aimufua’s tale is in conformity with those of over 10,000 residents that would be displaced as a result of the forthcoming demolition exercise in the 19 communities namely: Idu, Karimo/ Dape, Tasha, Gwagwa, Saburi, Zauda, Jahi, Gishiri, Mabushi, Mpape and Kuchingoro. Also in Chika, Aleyita, Piwoyi, Lugbe, Pyakassa, Tudun Wada, Dei- Dei and Guzape; all in Abuja Municipal Area and Bwari Area Councils.
It is worthy of note that the Federal Capital Territory was created in 1976 pursuant to Decree No. 6 as promulgated by the late Murtala Mohammed.
The formation of the FCT was based on the report of the Justice Akinola Aguda Panel, a body established to advice on the desirability of a new Federal Capital Territory outside of Lagos. It was eventually formed on February 3, 1976, from parts of Nasarawa, Kogi and Niger states.
The first major policy statement made by the government in that year, 1976, was for complete relocation of the entire inhabitants outside the new Federal Capital Territory of approximately 8,000 square kilometres. With the formation of FCT 36 years ago, the aboriginal inhabitants of FCT were displaced.
Also during the Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai administration as Minister of the FCT, many people were also displaced and properties worth millions of naira lost during the massive demolition exercise which he admitted was in a bid to restore the Abuja master plan.
Several years after concerted efforts have been made by past and present Ministers of the FCT to restore the Master Plan, it appears that the Master plan was not designed to accommodate the interest of the low income earners who dwell in the said illegal settlement.
Mpape residents beg for additional time
At the time the reporter visited Mpape, there was the presence of heavily armed policemen and Mobile policemen numbering over 30 who went in company of Development Control staff to ensure that the residents do not confront or assault or do anything to impede the officials from carrying out their lawful duties. The Development Control officials however, refused to speak to our reporter on the essence of their presence at Mpape.
However, Mrs. Ogene Abu, a woman in her early 40s who is a victim of the unfolding demolition saga also pleaded with the FCT administration to give her enough time to relocate her family since her husband was not financially buoyant.
The mother of four painfully added, “They did not inform us about the demolition but they just came and started marking the houses. We heard from the news that they will come and demolish by August.
I live here with my husband and four children but I want them to be patient with us and give us a grace period of one year, particularly for the sake of those who had renewed their rents for one year shortly before this scenario.
As for me, even if I can’t raise money to pay elsewhere, I will relocate my family back to the village. I have four children that are going to school, so I am appealing to them to be passionate.
Another landlord affected, Mr. Gideon Usman also called on the Bala Mohammed led administration to tamper justice with mercy, adding that, “If only they can give us extra period of one year, anybody that refuses to relocate should be treated with disdain.
Mixed reaction trail demolition saga in Pyakassa
At the palace of Sarkin Pada of Pyakassa, Shedrach Pada, LEADERSHIP SUNDAY was a bit cautious as the Chief was still mourning the death of his son whom died after a brief illness.
But he was still magnanimous in attending to our reporter and said, “three weeks ago, the Development Control staff went round this village to check for illegal structures but it was only one batcher that was marked and as I am talking to you, the batcher has been pulled down.
“I still stand on my promises that we will no longer condone illegal development by settlers. The only houses that you will see in this village now are the ones built by the indigenes or their grown up children. So there is nothing like illegal development taking place here.
He called on the FCT minister to reconsider compensating the indigenes that were affected during the last demolition exercise who are yet to be resettled.
Mr. Desmond Egbulue, a native of Delta State disclosed that though they were yet to visit the village but he cannot rely on what the Chief said since majority of them were not truthful about the exercise.
He added, “I was living at the Aviation village but when they demolished the area, I relocated to Pyakassa. So it was the same story that my landlord told me and that is why I will not believe them because majority of them do not tell the truth. I just hope that they will give us more time to relocate.
Kuchingoro residents seek divine intervention
When this reporter visited the palace of the Chief of Kuchingoro, Ibrahim Wambi, she met the wife who sat comfortably outside the palace. She said that her husband was always busy attending meetings in the city and hardly can he be seen at home. She refused to comment on any issue saying that it was meant for her husband.
She said, “You know they are big people and he is always attending meetings in the town. He hardly sits back at home, so keep checking on him, possibly one day, you will meet him. He is the only one that can speak with you on this matter.
A butcher, Mr. Kazeem Ibrahim and Mrs. Amina Gabriel were seriously seeking for divine intervention on the impending demolition even as they admitted that they are aware of the exercise.
They said, “we have heard of it but we are praying that God will touch the heart of the FCT minister so that he will change the order because we have no other place to run to except our villages but our children are in school. Government should please provide us with an alternative area where we can live and fend for ourselves.
Garki residents conduct businesses amid fear
At Garki village, the residents confirmed that the Sa’Peyi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Nga Kupi had informed them of the impending exercise expressing fear that it may terminate their business in Abuja.
According to Miss Angela Uwem, a stylist, “We are not enjoying living in this dirty village but how can people survive in a city like Abuja without working. Had it been that I make good money from this business, I will not live here. Though the chief in this village told us but I am still begging them to give us an alternative settlement where the poor can afford to pay to rent without owing.
Another resident, Mr. John Okafor who runs a mini provision shop said, “Can you imagine what will happen to us when they demolish this place? I will be forced to go back to my village because I cannot raise big money to pay for a house in high brow areas. So I am begging the federal government to look into our plight and save the common man in Nigeria.
Development control goes tough on illegal settlements
The Assistant Director of Monitoring and Enforcement, Development Control Department of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, TPL Nathaniel Atebije insisted that the affected settlements must be demolished so as to pave the way for proper development in the city.
According to him, “Some of these places will be allocated to people and the people cannot have access to their plot without the allocation. So the allottees will now go? and build structures that are in conformity with the plan.
Then, we will have an environment that will be more functional which will create and enhance the beauty that we need in this city instead of seeing the presence of shanties.
“On whether there are plans to resettle them, he said, “The regulation in FCT says if your development has no approval, it cannot stand because the FCT is a place that was established by law and it has a plan. So if the development is not in consonance with the plan, then it has to go down.
Speaking on the exact time the villages would be demolished, he added, “We take one step at a time. The first step we are taking now is marking the illegal structures and when we finish marking, we will embark on demolition.
After we finish marking Mpape, we will be going to other settlements; perhaps, we may demolish earlier than the end of this year. Except higher authorities intervene but on our own part, there is no going back because the places must be demolished.
Also, the district officer in charge of Lugbe -Aviation Village, Adamu Garba debunked the claims by the chief of Pyakassa that it was only one shanty that was marked for demolition in the community.
He, however, confirmed that all settlements along Lugbe – Airport axis would be marked this week since the agency has been lenient with the residents but who have refused to relocate.
He said, “For the chief of Pyakassa to tell you that we visited three weeks ago and it was one shanty that was marked and it was already destroyed means that he is not honest.
“Recently, we have not marked any settlement for demolition along Airport road but we only went there for sensitisation. We will visit there this week though they were earlier marked in 2008 but we delayed because of the Mpape work”, he concluded.?
The residents of FCT are seriously yearning for affordable housing. The Works and Housing as well as the Urban Development Ministries should take it upon themselves and speed up the construction of affordable housing for low income earners and stop the pretence that those unaffordable houses were constructed for low income earners.?
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