The Development Control Department of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished 11,705 shanty colonies across the city of Abuja, from January to October.
The department also generated N2.5 billion and created 13,873 direct and indirect jobs during the period.
This was stated by the Director of Development Control, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima, during a press briefing on the activities of the department in Abuja on Sunday.
Mr. Galadima explained that the shanties and illegal developments were demolished in conjunction with the Ministerial Law Enforcement Task Force.
He identified the affected areas as Kabusa, Kasuwan dare, Galadimawa junction, Mabushi scavenger colony and Gudu district along Oladipo Diya Way.
He also said the department removed structures obstructing waterways in Lugbe, Jahi and Lokogoma.
This, according to him, has curbed the flooding that has been experienced in the city in recent years.
He also said that encroachment on rights of way and security black spots were equally dismantled in collaboration with FCT security agencies.
The director also revealed that a total of 1,764 applications for construction plans were received during the period, of which 1,422 were approved, including delays from previous years.
On revenue generation, Galadima said the N2.5 billion was generated from building plan approval and land use violations from January to October.
He said that amount represents 68.5 per cent of the N3.7 billion target for the year, adding that of the N2.5 billion, N1.7 billion was generated solely by the approval of the construction plan.
The director also explained that the 13,873 direct and indirect jobs were created in different stages of construction at various sites as approved by the department.
Another achievement, according to Galadima, included the inauguration of a comprehensive verification team to deal with backlogged files and accelerate the approval of construction plans for plots within areas provided with infrastructure.
He added that the department also established Regional Offices to decentralize monitoring and law enforcement activities to Area Councils and Satellite Cities.
“We also inaugurated a Committee for the Prevention of Building Collapses in the FCT to propose modalities and institutional framework to prevent the collapse of buildings in the territory.
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“The department also inaugurated a post-development audit that started in Dawaki as a pilot scheme.
“Department staff also carried out routine monitoring of physical development activities within the territory where opposing developments receive stop work notices, abandonment notices or demolition notices,” he said.
Regarding staff well-being, Galadima said the department has institutionalized year-end activities where it evaluates itself, also improves staff bonding and presents awards to deserving staff to boost morale.
“There is also a monthly medical check-up for all staff and monthly sports activities to improve the physical condition of the staff,” he added.
He identified the increasing cases of land grabbing and harassment of department personnel by security agencies as some of the challenges recorded during the period under review.
“There is also the problem of the lack of resettlement of indigenous communities, which created pockets of expanding slums throughout the city.
“Another challenge is inadequate and outdated utility vehicles for monitoring and heavy equipment for law enforcement in an ever-growing territory.
“Others are inadequate office premises, slow adoption of information and communication technologies and non-utilization of land after the removal of illegal settlements.
“There is also the challenge of the slow pace of infrastructure development, especially in satellite cities and abandoned buildings that serve as criminal hideouts, among others,” he said.
(YAYA)
