The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday, August 28, 2023, demolished a multimillion naira duplex built on Plot 226, in Wuse Zone 6, an unapproved land in Abuja.

The FCTA Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the building was illegally developed against all warnings.

Galadima said his team had carried out an extensive investigation to ascertain the original owner of the plot, given varying claims that were being put forth by the parties.

He added that an investigation revealed that the developer was not the owner of the plot, adding “that is why we had to remove the building”.

He stated that the FCTA will not consider the status of any defaulting developer once development rules and regulations are violated.

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Galadima said: “We demolished the duplex because somebody built on someone else’s land without valid title and building plan approval.

“We allowed the building to this stage before demolishing it because we had to follow all due processes.”

The director noted that the supposed owner of the building was served all the notices to stop work, saying: “But being a disobedient developer, he continued without heeding to the notices.

“After our investigation, we have ascertained the rightful allottee of the plot, so we have to remove the building.

“We are going to consult the legal department to know the next action against the developer.”

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, recently vowed to demolish houses illegally constructed in the nation’s capital.

Wike declared that the houses built to distort the Abuja Masterplan and those constructed on green areas will also be demolished, no matter the owners of the buildings.

The immediate past governor of Rivers State stressed that his duty was to return Abuja to what it used to be and not as a witch hunt against any individual.

The Star