Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday, gave a one-week ultimatum to squatters and owners of make-shift settlements in Abuja to quit or face demolition.
Represented by the Joint Task Force of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and Director, Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, the minister noted that serious intelligence reports were received particularly on robberies and other forms of criminality.
During a visit to Apo Dutse, Galadima saw how the squatters have re-emerged despite earlier demolition by previous administrations.
Explaining that the place has been allocated for residential purposes, Galadima said the team would clear it for the owners to take over their plots and develop them accordingly, adding that illegal squatters should respect the constituted authority.
He said: “We received an intelligence report that there are some challenges here and you would recall that this place was removed before, but they came back. Now we want to clear the place once again, once and for all.
“But today we are engaging with them, discussing the mode of operation before we come back for demolition and we will likely come back next week so that we have the exercise harmoniously.”
On his part, Secretary, Command and Control in the FCTA, Dr. Peter Olumiji, explained that the task force has been receiving reports of criminal attacks on an estate in the area, adding that once the illegal settlement is cleared, the crime rate within the district would be reduced.
Olumiji said the task team has given them time to park their things, and that after the expiration of the ultimatum, the team would be back to ensure enforcement.
