Tears as FCT bulldozer visits Lugbe again, demolishes illegal structures

In continuation to resetting the original master plan of the FCT, officials of the Development Control Department of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) have again visited Airport road to pull down thousands of illegal structures at Kiyami and Aviation Village.

A statement said that the Developmental Control department in company of armed security personnel had stormed the area with a bulldozer and removed illegal structures, mostly perimeter fences around a handful of empty lands and buildings under construction.

According to the statement, “some of the affected structures had the Department’s stop work and final demolition notices dated as far back as August and September this year. They were marked for allegedly being developed and or encroaching on right of way in the area”.

It stressed that during the exercise, Principal Town Planner and District monitor of Lugbe/Kuje, Hajiya Hanatu Nuhu, disclosed that the illegal structures were built by unknown people in the area.

She explained that the Department served all relevant notices on the defaulters before the removal proper.

She said: “The exercise is supposed to be for two days to remove all illegal structures in Lugbe1, Lugbe Extension, Kiyami, Aviation Village and Kuje. In fact, it is meant to be a continuous exercise.

“Some structures built illegally are meant to be removed, so we have come here (Lugbe) to remove them.

“We served relevant notices, and we got necessary approval before actual removals.

“This will serve as a watch word for those who are moving around, and building illegally, it would stop them from building.

“When the machine (bulldozer) moves around, it stops a lot from going around building unlawfully in the area.”

Idu Jude, Abuja