Demolition - News Agency Of Nigeria

Philip Daniel Yatai
Aug, Thu, 2025

FCTA continues onslaught on criminal hideouts in Abuja

By Philip Yatai

The City Sanitation Taskforce of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished a criminal hideout in Apo Resettlement, Abuja, in continuation of its ongoing onslaught on criminal hideouts across the capital city.

Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control, who heads the operation told journalists during the exercise on Thursday, that the location had been contributing to the insecurity in Apo and environs.

Galadima described the area as one of the identified “dark spots” inhabited by criminal elements in the city, with reported killings by miscreants living in the area.

This, according to him, had made the area a huge security threat to other residents.

“This is part of the continuation of the city sanitation operations to rid the city of criminal elements.

“This place has been identified as one of the notorious dark spots in the city and we are here to clear the area to make it safe for residents.

“There are credible and verifiable security and intelligence reports about these locations. In fact, there were instances where some people were even killed around this area.

“So, for the fact that this place was identified as a dark spot, it’s enough for it to be demolished, cleared and removed everything, including the fence.

He said that the step was part of the FCTA’ s measures to keep miscreants away from green areas and empty plots of land.

Mr Adamu Gwary, Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, confirmed that residents of the area had been complaining about criminal activities in the area.

Gwary, who was represented by the Secretary, Command and Control Centre, Dr Peter Olumuji said that apart from a safe haven for suspected armed robbers, illicit drug peddling also thrive in the area.

“Some few weeks ago, there was an attack on residents and the criminals hid in the area.

“Over 50 armed robbers came here to attack the residents here, but the quick response from the FCT Police Command and sister agencies prevented that attack from snowballing”, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the taskforce on Aug. 6, demolished illegal structures and shanties in Wuse Zone 3, and moved to UTC for a similar exercise on Monday.

The taskforce also demolished illegal structures and shanties, popularly known as “Cashew Garden” in Apo Cadastral Zone E27, Abuja, on Tuesday.(NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

FCTA demolishes Cashew Garden, shanties illegally erected by miscreants in Apo

Philip Daniel Yatai
Aug, Tue, 2025

Metro

FCTA demolishes Cashew Garden, shanties illegally erected by miscreants in Apo

Philip Yatai

The City Sanitation Operation of the Federal Capital Territory has demolished illegal structures and shanties, popularly called, “Cashew Garden” in Apo Cadastral Zone E27, Abuja.

Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control, who led the operation in Abuja on Tuesday, told journalists during the exercise that the move was to rid the city of criminal elements and miscreants.

“You recall that we were at Zone 3, Wuse and UTC for similar exercises since the commencement of the operation as directed by the FCT Security Committee.

‘Today we are in Apo, dislodging shanties and miscreants, posing security threats to residents of the area,” he said.

The Chairman of the garden, Mr Steven Obiozo, said the about 200 occupants were not criminals, adding that the area was given to them to occupy by the owner of the plot.

Obiozo said the occupants built small tents and shops and were mainly selling provisions, food, beer and soft drinks.

Galadima, however, insisted that their occupation of the area and operations was without government authorisation and as such, illegal.

He added that the FCT Administration would revoke the land allocation for harboring miscreants, who go about the city committing crimes.

Galadima said that the area was designated for residential purposes, adding that allocations were made but the allottees failed to develop their plot within the stipulated time.

“So as has been directed by the FCT Security Committee, we are going to take over the area; we are going to possess it,” he said.

He said that the area had been planned with a clearly defined road corridor demarcated by a deep trench.

“The road is what we call the S20, extension of Oladipo Diya that goes through FHA Apo, up to Guzape 2.

“So the road is clearly defined and the plots are also defined.

“So we have concluded, based on what we have seen, that all those people that own plots here and allow these people to erect illegal structures will lose the allocations and be reverted to the FCT Administration,” he said.

The director explained that the operation would be extended to all nukes and crannies of the FCT.

Also speaking, Mr Adamu Gwary, Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, said that the operation was making FCT very hot for people with criminal tendencies in the territory.

Gwary, who was represented by the Secretary, Command and Control, Dr Peter Olumuji, said that some of the miscreants deal in illicit drugs.

“One thing we want criminal elements to know is that FCT is not a place they can urbanate again.

“Wherever you go, we are going to pursue you and smoke you out,” Gwary said. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

AMAC chairman decries demolitions in Karsana community, vows legal action

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Sun, 2025

Metro

AMAC chairman decries demolitions in Karsana community, vows legal action

By Philomina Attah

Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, has decried the recent demolition of property in the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) Karsana Community by a developer, Oceanic Properties and Equilibrium Concept.

Maikalangu made this known on Saturday in Abuja after inspecting the extent of the demolition and its effect on the livelihoods of the residents.

He described the developer’s action as a grave injustice against the community, and vowed to seek redress for them in court.

According to the area council boss, the people of the community are legitimate indigenous Gbagyi people of the FCT, who are entitled to full compensation for the damage caused to them.

“Legal action will be pursued by the community and AMAC authorities. Official reports are being submitted to senior government officials,” he said.

Maikalangu appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike for immediate intervention to address the situation.

He also appealed to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to intervene toward their immediate resettlement, adding that many families had been rendered homeless.

“As you can see, these people are homeless. Where are they going to sleep today?” No warning, no compensation.

“If you want to relocate people who live here, first thing, compensate them. If you don’t want them here, give them another alternative.

“With the Gbagyi people, the name Karsana is important,” he said.

The council boss noted that the demolition was carried out without any prior warning, court notice, or compensation.

He vowed that no construction work would take place on the disputed site until the displaced residents were compensated and resettled.

“The developer acted outside due process and ignored community rights. If you want to relocate people first thing, compensate them. If you don’t want them here, give them another alternative.

“Get them somewhere, build houses for them, and relocate them. But you destroyed the houses, they have nowhere to sleep and you are comfortable. It’s unfair. We are all Nigerians.

“We can’t continue like this in this country. The federal government has to intervene in this case,” he said.

Mr Dikko Jezhi, the community’s Youth Secretary, recounted the trauma which the people have been subjected to due to the demolition, noting that the people have nowhere to go at the moment.

“Residents were at work when their homes were demolished with police escort. Families had no advanced notice and lost all possessions.

“Generations of indigenous families, including the elderly, are now left stranded.

“I asked my mother yesterday if she had another state aside from this, and she replied no. Even her grandfather, this was where the grandfather was born,” Jezhi said.

He added: “So we don’t know where to go. They have demolished our houses. Our properties are down.

“They have been pushing the indigenous people to the wall. We won’t react because this is our father’s land.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that critical structures, including the chief’s palace and a church, were among the buildings destroyed, leaving the community in despair. (NAN)

Edited by Mark Longyen

Lagos Govt. to demolish illegal structures on Banana Island

Lydia Beshel
Feb, Fri, 2025

General News

Lagos Govt. to demolish illegal structures on Banana Island

Demolition

By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Lagos State Government has announced that it will begin marking illegal buildings on Banana Island for demolition, by Monday.

Mr Gbolahan Oki, General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), made the announcement at a stakeholders meeting on Banana Island, on Thursday.

He said that the buildings were encroaching on prohibited areas, violating building codes and posing safety risks.

Oki said: ” From Monday to Friday, next week, officials will come and mark the buildings; the following week, we will just give you two weeks to get your documents ready.

“After that, I am going to pull everything down.”

The general manager said that the decision followed illegal constructions on Banana Island, particularly buildings under high-tension power lines and those too close to shoreline.

He said that the lives of Lagos residents were more important than the value of the property.

Oki said that LASBCA had taken a similar action in other areas such as Abule Egba, Iya Niba and Iyana Isheri, by removing buildings under high-tension lines.

The general manager said that buildings under high-tension lines or too close to shoreline violated established planning rules and regulations.

Oki said: “The government’s regulations require buildings to be at least 150 metres from the shoreline, which was generously reduced to 100 metres.

“Even with the leniency, some developers have failed to comply.”

Dr Babatunde Olajide, Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on e-GIS and Planning Matters, emphasised that the state government, through the governor, was the sole authority on land matters within the state, as stipulated by the Land Use Act.

He said that the state had a master plan for the area, adding that unauthorised sand filling and land reclamation had disrupted the organised development the state envisioned.

He appealed to the residents to co-operate with the state government, saying that the government was there to serve them and needed their cooperation to do so effectively.

He said that the government had received complaints about illegal extensions in the area and had set up a committee headed by the Mr Olalekan Sodeinde, Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban Development, to investigate.

Mr Olalekan Sodeinde, Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban Development, Lagos State, said that the estate, which was once a source of pride and a premium property location, was losing its status due to negative environmental impacts.

This, he said, was the reason the government intervened to restore order and prevent further degradation.

He also confirmed that the governor directed his Special Adviser on e-GIS and Planning Matters and the Office of Urban Development to conduct an assessment of the situation.

The Chairman, Banana Island Association, Mr Abidemi Sonaike, expressed willingness to co-operate with the government and other stakeholders to resolve issues on the estate.

He expressed satisfaction at the government’s initiative in calling the meeting, saying it was a positive first step toward collaboration.

Sonaike called for joint efforts in finding lasting solutions. (NAN)
Edited by Ijeoma Popoola