Lokogoma residents react as FCTA vows to carry out demolition plan

Ukpono Ukpong, Abuja

The decision of Development Control Department of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to demolish structures constricting the waterways has received commendations from residents of Lokogoma District who have recently suffered the negative impact of the flooding in the area.

While describing the plan as the only way to stop future occurrence of such incidents, the residents at the weekend during the tripartite meeting between FCTA officials from the relevant departments, various estate developers in the district and off-takers (owners of the buildings) pledge their support to decision of the administration.

Recall, the Permanent Secretary, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, last week directed the Director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima to lead a team of FCTA officials to interface with the residents of Lokogoma ahead of the planned removal of illegal structures at the expiration of the two week notice earlier given by the administration.

Addressing the residents, Galadima expressed delight that the affected residents were willing to comply with the directive even as he disclosed that the administration was set to carry out the planned removal of all offending structures in the coming week.

“We are here because we promised to go along with the residents’ Associations. The whole objective is to save lives and properties and we don’t pray for future occurrence of these unfortunate incidents. That’s why we are here this morning discussing with the residents’ Associations.

“We moved from estate to estate and where we have constriction of the stream corridor, those structures identified, are going to be captured and as earlier indicated we are coming back next week for proper implementation of that (removal) decision.

Reminding them of how far to move away from the waterways, Galadima said: “This corridor of 20 meters either side of the river is not just out of the blues. It’s based on standards.

At the end of the day, when this District is fully serviced, you will see this corridor being laid with cables, pipes for conveyance of sewer lines, water amongst other things.

“So, it’s not just that somebody just woke up and said it must be 20/20. It’s based on engineering standards.”

Ayodele Awosika, President of Pengassan Estate 1 which is one of the flood affected estates said it the planned action by the FCTA was a welcome development, adding that “residents of the estate have been facing severe incidents of flooding due to the constriction of the river channel.”

According to him, “the level of water within the estate is unusually very high due to the diversion of the natural course of water flow, which makes it difficult for most residents within the estate to leave their houses and go to work whenever it rains.”

Another resident and Vice Chairman, Lokogoma Residents’ Association, Dauda Kya also expressed happiness with the planned removal of houses built on the waterways.

Dauda who noted that the buildings should not have been allowed to be erected in the first place, said they were glad that the government has now come in to clear those structures.

“We have longed for this. That’s what necessitated all our agitations and various discussions with government. We are happy with this development,” he said.