The Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has instructed officers to provide a list of makeshift and informal settlements in the FCT for a verification process.
Muktar Galadima, the Director of the DDC, announced on Wednesday that the purpose of this action was to identify and deal with illegal makeshift and informal settlements that could harbor criminal activities in the area.
During the removal of illegal makeshift homes and shops at Durumi 1, the director mentioned that the broader plan is to improve security and organized development in the area.
He mentioned, “Considering the increasing insecurity in FCT, we were told to clear all makeshift and squatter settlements in the Federal Capital Territory. So, this aligns with the directive from the FCT Administration.
“The operation is not only focused on the city center, we are expanding beyond the city center but we have a direction, which is why we are starting from the city center and moving outward.
“The area we are clearing now is part of Moshood Abiola Way, which stretches from the International Conference Centre, passes through Area 10, Area 2, down to Durumi and goes to Games Village. This is a section of the road known as Festival Road.
Galadima explained that once illegal settlements are cleared in a specific area, they will be handed over to agencies, which will then be responsible and accountable for their development.
“The new approach is that once we clear the place, we hand it over to a responsible agency. If they fail to fulfill their responsibility, then they should be held accountable, not the development control, nor the taskforce.
“For instance, once we clear it, we are going to inform the News Engineering, even if it is a temporary road, they should make it available to the public so that these people will not return again,
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Command and Control Unit in the FCTA Department of Security Service, Dr. Peter Olumuji, mentioned that Durumi was known for certain conflicts, and some individuals who constructed buildings on the road corridor made it difficult to have a precise address for them.
Regarding the sale of drugs, Olumuji said, “The NDLEA and the task team have been conducting operations, and we have already seized some substances suspected to be Indian hemp, and that is part of the issues we are addressing.
“Here, people have access to various types of drugs, and as I mentioned, our approach is comprehensive. Once we clear the area, they will have no place to stay and will have to leave this environment.
He revealed that the unit has arrested three individuals for drug-related offenses and for obstructing the demolition process.
