Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has insisted that there is no going back by the Abuja Development Control Department to demolish another 31 housing estates, which he claimed were constructed in defiance of the city’s master plan.
Speaking against the background of the recent public outcry against the proposed demolition, the minister said the exercise is geared towards restoring the Abuja MasterPlan.
Mohammed made the disclosure when he appeared before the Senate Committee on FCT to defend the 2013 budget appropriation of the city at the National Assembly.
He told the lawmakers that the FCT Administration was empowered by law to carry out demolition of illegal structures, as is the case with the 31 estates.
“We will go ahead to demolish the 31 estates because we have the law on demolition and I cannot interfere with the development control, because they are backed by the Land Use Act.
“There is a lot of impunity in Abuja and we have evidence where we tell developers not to go on with their construction without the MasterPlan, but they will not heed,” Mohammed said.
Asked by Chairman of the Committee, Senator Smart Adeyemi, what the fate of the residents of the 31 estates would be if the FCT goes ahead to carry out the proposed demolition, the minister simply said; “the poor people are gullible” and as such they should face the consequences.
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