By Echeburu Oby
The Director of the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA)’s Development Control Department, Muktar Usman Galadima spoke with Viewpoint Housing Media in an interview. He stated that the government does not demolish properties because they were converted for other uses. It only does so if the said properties have become a menace to the society in terms of health, noise pollution or a nuisance.
Viewpoint: There was a demolition along Kugbo road, Nyanya axis of the FCT and the development control team of the FCTA were there, why was the property demolished?
Galadima: What happened was an enforcement of compliance with development control rules and regulations, it was a case of development without approval.
Viewpoint: Who owns the said property? Because, those around at the scene said it’s owned by a military personnel, how true is this?
Galadima: The place in question is within an area allocated to the Nigerian Air Force, the entire area belongs to the Nigerian Air Force. The property removed was intended for a fuel station but, what was approved for them was for the fuel station to be situated within the estate but, somehow, they moved it from where it was meant to be to a place that had been designated for a green area.
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For every development, there is always a room for review but, for that review, you have to seek the consent of the approving authorities before carrying out a project.
The issue was that they developed a filling station where it was not supposed to be.
Viewpoint: Was prior notice issued before the demolition?
Galadima: They were notified before the demolition took place. We asked them to go and remove their valuables because, it is not good to destroy things but, since they failed to heed to the advice, it happened the way it did.
Viewpoint: Does the area council approval still stand?
Galadima: The power to allocate land in the FCT rest with the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Authority who is active on the delegation of the President and by the provision of the Nigerian Urban and Planning Law, no authority is to approve development, only the department of development control working under the provision of the FCT acts of 1976.
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Viewpoint: If you go around the capital city, you will see illegal structures like restaurants, clubs and lounges that are operated on residential areas. What is the FCDA doing about such structures?
Galadima: We have been doing something about them by sealing and forcing some of them to revert back to the original purpose. Also, as part of development processes, we are trying to see how to revive the plan to accommodate those needs that are very essential to be where they are meant to be. You know there is always a room to review your plan, that’s what we are doing at the moment concerning such structures. For now, we are compelling them to revert back to their original land use.
Most of these people when they apply for residential plan and once it’s approved for residential purpose, sometimes, after using these properties for some time, they change so that they can acquire more profit from the property by making more use of it for other purposes.
Viewpoint: Such properties when demolished by the government, does the government compensate them?
Galadima: No, because, they have gone against the initial plan of use. The government does not just demolish because you converted the property for another use. Until the said property becomes a menace to the society in terms of health, noise pollution or a nuisance to the society, that’s when you see government place a notice of REMOVE.
When you fail to revert back, there are procedures. We write to you and if you fail to comply, we recommend for the withdrawal of your title and when it is approved, we withdraw the title and the property no longer belongs to you.
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Moreover, the land belongs to the government. It is just that you are using it for a while because, in your certificate, it carries 99years. So, after 99years, the land comes back to the government but, when you default, the years can be shortened for like 20 years and we take back our land.
