The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Department of Development Control on Friday demolished some illegal structures in Prison Command area of Kuje, Abuja.
The Head of Public Relations of the department, Mr Kalu Emetu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the structures being demolished in Kuje were built on sites allocated for Abuja rail track.
He advised Abuja residents to always make proper enquiries about lands they intend to acquire.
“We do not remove structures for the fun of it, the structures being demolished in Kuje were built on the rail track and now that work is progressing on the railway, the structures have to go,’’ Emetu said.
Some affected residents of Kuje, however, lamented their loss as result of the demolition.
Mr Abakan Mandi, an elder of a demolished church, ‘Household of Total Liberation Church’’, said that the demolition caused hardship to members of the congregation.
Mandi said the church received demolition notice on Nov. 6 but did not expect the exercise to commence so soon.
“Some people came around and said that our church was built on rail track and that they wanted to clear the area for the rail track, and they started demolishing everywhere,’’ he said.
He said that the church acquired the land from some indigenes of Kuje and regularised the papers in Kuje Area Council.
Another resident, who is also a civil servant, Jacob Adamu, lamented the loss of his house which he said he saved for several years to build.
“You know how difficult it is to get accommodation in Abuja.
“I have been saving for several years just to build this house so I can accommodate myself and my family, where do I start from now,’’ he lamented.
Mr Paul Ajifowowe, also a resident of Kuje, said that indigenes of the area took advantage of delay in constructing the rail track to start allocating the land to people.
He said the earlier settlers in the area were resettled by government only for the indigenes to sell the land to unsuspecting buyers.
“Since the designing of the rail track, the initial allocations were revoked and the affected people were relocated to other areas.
“People should have noticed something suspicious about the area being left undeveloped,’’ he said.
