FCTA commences demolition in Dakwa over boundary encroachment

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has so far demolished no fewer than 150 houses in Dakwa, a town located along the FCT-Niger State boundary in Bwari Area Council.

According to the Director, Department of Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Tpl. Muktar Galadima, a total of 200 illegal buildings were earlier marked for demolition in 2018 following its encroachment on plot allocated to Abuja Investment Company Ltd.

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Speaking during the exercise, Galadima said the enforcement has laid to rest the contention of who owns the plot even as he vowed to ensure that the rest of the illegal structures are removed.

He however called on the Abuja Investment Company Ltd to immediately commence development on the over 201 hectares of land in Dakwa, FCT allocated for the establishment of Abuja Automotive Village.

Explaining to Journalists during the exercise, Galadima explained that whereas there is Dakwa in both FCT and Niger State, the area in contention is that of FCT.

“The Dakwa that is part of Niger State is opposite Madala market. You see, there is this natural boundary -it’s just like a drainage. This is not that Dakwa. Everybody knows and believes that this Dakwa is in FCT.

“This place is an area of about 201 hectares of land allocated to the Abuja Investment Company Ltd for the purpose of Abuja Automotive Village. We are here to recover this land.

“Some time in 2018, we had a small operation here, we marked and even removed some of the illegal structures, but there was a pending boundary case between the FCTA and Niger State government.

“The then Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Alhaji Umar Shuiabu intervened and arranged a meeting the two governments. But now that it has been proven that this place is clearly in the FCT, we are here to remove all the encroachments. We estimate over 200 structures and these are solid structures, not shanties.”

Also commenting on how the FCTA intended to keep the place safe, the Development Control boss “We have been talking with the Abuja Investment Company Ltd; we advise them to show presence, even if it is by way of fencing, and then begin to talk with investors, but if they do not do any serious, we will advise revocation and reallocation to a more serious developer.”