By Khanoba Khanoba, Abuja
Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Tuesday stated its readiness to gradually demolish Mpape as the community is not healthy for habitation.
The Director, Development and Control Department of FCTA, Mr. Yahaya Yusuf who disclosed this during a media parley organized by the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), stated that the suspension of the demolition exercise in Mpape was to allow residents to secure accommodation in other places, even as he dismissed claim that the suspension was as a result of the forthcoming general election.
“Mpape is a settlement that was spontaneous, because people want to take advantage of the quarry activities that go on in that area and for the fact that it is not part of the city proper.
“For now, there is no planning for the layout so they (residents) are just there for the interim, but while they are there they have generated certain level of waste, they are having a disorganized settlement…, you will find out people defecating close to water sources.” He said
Speaking further, Yahaya said the complaints of residents of the sprawling community , court cases and the cost of relocating affected persons also played a major role in the suspension of the demolition exercise.
“There was outcry that we are human, that we are going to remove structures without providing alternative places.
“Looking backward, we have had some relocation schemes but because of inadequate funds government could not provide infrastructure as planned, so it does not make sense to start another relocation plan that you will not be able to fund.
“So we gave people adequate time so that they can move out on their own to find alternatives site where they can have fresh buildings and gradually we will remove those structures”, he added
