The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FCDA

  • Estate subscribers seek N5b compensation over demolition of houses

    The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has been faulted over its demolition of about 500 houses in Minanuel Estate in Abuja.

    Subscribers to the estate on Airport Road, demolished last October by FCDA officials, who allegedly acted with the support of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), said due process was not followed in the demolition.

    Their lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), argued last week, at the resumed hearing of his clients’suit instituted by the subscribers, that the demolition was “punitive, discriminatory and inhuman”.

    He further argued that the Minanuel Estate project was singled out for demolition. He noted that other similar ongoing estate projects in the area were not demolished.

    Uche cited the Royal Fort Estate, Set Time Estate and NNPC Cooperative Society Ltd Estate that were not demolished.

    He spoke while cross-examining a defence witness, Abubakar Suleiman before Justice Danladi Senchi of the FCT High Court, Wuse.

    Sulaiman, a Zonal Land Manager FCDA, who had earlier admitted seeing some approval documents in relation to the Minanuel Estate project, denied seeing letters conveying approval for the development of the estate.

    He also denied that the demolition was discriminatory. He said other estates in the area were spared on the intervention of the National Assembly.

    The subscribers have denied a claim by the defence that it served them with notices of demolition.

    They also opposed move by defence lawyer, Joe Gadzama (SAN), to tender documents to support its claim, arguing that the documents were not pleaded.

    Led in evidence by Gadzama, FCDA’s District Officer in Charge of Town Planning, Adamu Garba, told the court that his colleagues served “Stop Work”, “Quit” and “Demolition” notices on Minanuel estate owners long before the demolition was effected.

    Gadzama sought to tender invoices for advertorials published by his client in some national dailies and on a radio station, in respect of the estate.

    His move was opposed by Uche, who argued that the documents were not pleaded.

    On Thursday, Justice Senchi admitted the documents and photographs on the ground that they were relevant to the case.

    The plaintiffs, who named FCDA, FCTA and FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed as defendants, are among others, seeking N5billion compensation.

     

  • FCDA warns contractors

    The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has warned contractors handling its projects against delay in completing their assignments.

    The Executive Secretary of the Authority, Mr. Adamu Ismaila who spoke with reporters in Abuja, said contractors had better sit and complete their jobs on time.

    His words: “The major issue is funding and once funding is steady, the projects will definitely be completed within stipulated time”.

    Adamu warned lazy contractors to resume work, saying that engineers of the FCDA have been mobilised to commence monitoring and supervision of the projects in line with the promise of the FCT minister.

    ”It is not a heavy task on me; we have the experts that will ensure first-class technical supervision,” he said.

    On the bad portions of some roads within the capital city, the executive secretary said plans have reached advance stages to rehabilitate the entire roads in Phase One of Garki and Wuse Districts, clarifying that work on the roads would commence before the end of the year.

    ”It is our intention to rehabilitate the entire roads in Garki and Wuse but it’s not going to be done at once but in phases and we are starting this year,” he said.

    He assured residents of Gwarimpa and some parts of Maitama and Asokoro of regular water supply by the end of the year, following the matching orders given to the contractors to complete the water project by December.

     

  • NUJ tackles FCDA, Senate over demolition

    NUJ tackles FCDA, Senate over demolition

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Abuja Council, has expressed outrage over the demolition of over 500 housing units by the Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital Development Authority.

    In a statement in Abuja, the council said it was saddened by the unfortunate incident, describing it as ‘callous, inhuman and a clear abuse of office.

    The statement which was signed by Comrade Chuks Ehirim, Chairman of Council, stated that the FCDA has become willing tool in the hands of powerful politicians who use it to forcefully take away people’s lands and re-allocate same to them.

    Ehirim specifically accused a Senate Committee of collusion in the demolition of the already built houses, challenging it to come clean on the matter.

    The NUJ chairman said it is remotely possible for the Development Control to go on with a demolition when the Senate Committee had asked it to suspend action until all matters were resolved.

    “As a union and council, we find it objectionable and wish to let those involved in indiscriminate demolition of peoples’ homes that they will not escape God’s wrath if they are above that of man.

     

  • Senate to probe FCDA over estate demolition

    Senate to probe FCDA over estate demolition

    •Owners demand FCT minister’s sack

    Senate President David Mark yesterday promised to probe the demolition of the Minanuel Estate on Airport Road, Abuja, by the Development Control of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

    The promise came amid calls for the sack of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Bala Muhammed and the Director of the Development Control Unit (DCU), Yahaya Yusuf, by subscribers.

    The demolished 500 housing units were to be handed over to the subscribers by the end of this month.

    But on September 29, the DCU rolled out its bulldozers and demolished the houses valued at over N3 billion.

    A coalition of the subscribers, civil rights activists, religious and cultural organisations yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly.

    Addressing the protesters on Mark’s behalf, Senator Abu Ibrahim condemned the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    He told the gathering that the upper chamber had met over the issue to review the FCDA’s action.

    Ibrahim said appropriate steps would be taken to assuage the suffering of the subscribers.

    In a protest letter to the Senate President read by their spokesperson, Festus Adebayo, the subscribers demanded adequate compensation.

    They also called for the prosecution of the FCDA officials, who carried out the exercise.

    In the October 5 letter, entitled: “Wanton Demolition of our 500 housing units”, the authors recalled their ordeal in the hands of the FCDA officials on September 29, when the demolition took place.

    The protesters were barred from entering the National Assembly Complex by security officials.

    A subscriber, Goddy Nnorom, lamented how he invested about N4.7 million borrowed from his wife, a banker, who suffered a stroke as a result of the demolition.

    Israel Ekrang, chief executive officer of Isvin Ventures and Chairman, Developers Association Goza called for compensation for the victims.

    The developer said it acquired the land from N.C.R and Associates in 2004 after which he applied for relevant approvals that were duly granted.

    The company has been involved in carrying out the business of mass housing development in various states for over 15 years.