By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council of the Federal Capital Administration on Thursday demolished unapproved structures at mechanic shed and a building to reclaim Plot 1765 in the Games Village area of the FCT.
The AMMC Director of Administration and Finance, Nasiru Isa said that the plot was allotted to the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council in 2012, for the construction of its AMMC Senior Staff Housing Estate.
While addressing newsmen after the exercise Isa, explained that the demolition carried out on Thursday concluded efforts by the AMMC to reclaim the plot in its first attempt three years ago.
He said that the illegal settlers had obstructed the contractor when they made initial efforts to begin the construction on the plot, adding that it is an unfinished development process which is accomplished today.
” Somewhere back three years now, the office wanted to take over its housing estate. But on going there on the ground, we met an illegal development on the plots.”
“There was a private school, run by a private person, a private business in short. And then there was also this mechanic workshop all on this land, Plot number 1765, and then it was duly served. The abatement notices were duly served by the site officers then and it was processed for enforcement.”
” And then when it had gotten the approval for the enforcement, the office went and started the removal, then there was an outcry by the (Games Village) Association which halted the development, and a committee was formed.”
According to Isa,the Committee had submitted its report after fact-finding missions to the plot, following which the Minister of the FCT, had approved the development of the housing development.
Also , the Assistant Director of Urban Affairs at the AMMC, Abubakar Makama, stated that the reclaimed plot was allocated to the Council in 2012, by thw former Minister of the FCT, Nasir El-Rufai, adding that the Council had previously issued quit notices, and acquired every necessary document, including its Right of Occupancy, and receipts and tellers from the Abuja Geographic Information System, justifying proper acquisition of the plot.
“We have served management of Games Village several notices before carrying out the demolition today, there are correspondences to justify our action.”
“It is not a new thing, we started the demolition about four months ago, we only went there today to complete the exercise, and all the relevant documents are available. We must not forget that the issue has been on for three years”, Isa said.
