Demolition looms as FCDA sets to remove houses on waterways

Ukpono Ukpong, Abuja

Following a recent flooding which claimed the life of a 17-year old boy at the Lokogoma District of Abuja last week, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has announced its plans to demolish structures built on waterways.

Addressing a press conference during the weekend after a tour of the affected area by a team of relevant departments of the FCDA, the Director, Department of Engineering Services, Engr. Ahmed Hadi, said FCDA is determined to resolve the unfortunate incident in Lokogoma.

While expressing sincere sympathy of the FCT Administration to the family who lost the 17-year old boy to the flood, the Director of Engineering however, said the incident was caused by illegal structures erected along waterways which obstructed the free flow of water from the two major rivers of Wamba and Kabusa.

“The crisis at Lokogoma is a recurring issue. It’s an issue that occured in the later part of 2017, but from the period we had the flooding, the Permanent Secretary (Sir.Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa) led a team,

including the Executive Secretary, FCDA (Engr. Umar Gambo Jibrin) to the spots and what we noticed on ground majorly was that properties were being developed on waterways, which has constricted two major rivers of Wamba and Kabusa, which the residents’ association has been taking up on these issues. The FCTA is determined on resolving these issues.” He said

Hadi noted that the two major challenge confronting the FCTA on Lokogoma includes; issues of flooding and lack of major access into entire mass housing estates which was cut off from ring Road II.

Speaking further, he disclosed that the FCT administration had mobilised one of it’s major contractors to go and carry out emergency work so as to restore the major access into Lokogoma.

“We have to take a decision. Water must have its course -it is a wise saying and it is also an engineering position.

“And if there are developments constricting water ways, it is only a matter of time; it will definitely find its way, and that is even worsen by the position of the two major rivers, converging at a confluence point, turning into one waterway, which also affected a second location.

And if effort is not made to remove all the constrictions and diversion of the streams…to restore the natural water course,

“What we saw on sites are buildings clearly submerging along the water courses.

We got Development Control department to mark out these illegal structures and to engage the residents to accept whether we have to allow these properties for which the authorities have an obligation to see to the protection of the FCT residents…and for this, we have to remove this properties.

At least, above any personal interest, so that the larger neighbourhood in Lokogoma estate can remain safer and that is what we are trying to do.

“Already, we are under the 2018 budget and a case has been made for the development of this arterial road which will now take its course, to extend from Ring Road II, upto Road S30, a samplance of the Oladipo Diya road, around Gudu market, Apo mechanic village down to….by these we would have brought along the major drainage points along these roads, then we can now channel all the issues from Kabusa and Lokogoma into it.

“That is what we are trying to do in the 2019 budget year, but in the mean time, most of these properties are without approvals. Most of them are illegal. So it is not even the issue of having to go for compensation.

But if anybody can present evidence of approval….otherwise the Development Control department has told us that most of them are illegal.

Chairman, Lokogoma residents association, Dr. Joseph Nnorom, while speaking, differed, pointing out that the issue of compensation should be put on the front burner, not back burner.

Dr. Nnorom appealed to government to save the residents from the situation the developer has put them into, even as he wondered where the enforcement authorities were when the buildings were been put up.

He said they were not squatters, and did not allocate land to themselves and built without supervision.

Recall, that apart from the 17 years old boy who was killed by the flood, no fewer than three persons -a father, son and daughter were also lost to the flood in 2017.