The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has demolished nine uncompleted houses at AB close in Gwarimpa, Abuja, over alleged illegal construction.
The terrace duplexes were reportedly developed on “land allocated to serving ambassadors” about 20 years ago with legal approvals.
Officials of the FHA enforcement task team, which carried out the demolition, urged Nigerians seeking to acquire property to go through the appropriate authorities and obtain legitimate documents and approvals.
Responding to complaints from an affected property owner at the demolition site, Peter Okpanachi, general manager of partnerships and zonal coordination at the FHA, said no one would be allowed to act contrary to the authority’s rules and regulations.
“At least we expect that you show us originals of the letters of allocation, which will confirm it is authentic or otherwise,” he said.
“Show us the building plan approval obtained from federal authority for him to carry out this construction.
“Those are the documents we need for now. Also show us evidence of payment.”
The demolition follows recent enforcement actions against buildings illegally constructed in Abuja.
In March, Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ordered the demolition of buildings “illegally constructed” on plots allocated to foreign missions in the diplomatic zone of Katampe extension, Abuja.
Wike said Kabiru Sahara, the developer involved, has been arrested and would face prosecution after the conclusion of the ongoing investigations by the police.
The land, located within the diplomatic zone in Katampe extension, was originally allocated on March 18, 2008, to 10 embassies for diplomatic residential purposes.
A portion of the area was also reserved for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) for a 132/133 kV power station.
Wike said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) discovered that an individual had taken over the land and commenced construction without approval from the
Federal Housing Authority.
