Structures on waterways in Abuja to be demolished – FCDA

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By: Prudence Okonna

The Executive Secretary (ES), Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engineer Shehu Ahmad Hadi has ordered that structures on waterways in the FCT be demolished immediately.

He gave this order, while addressing the press during a monitoring and inspection tour of locations affected by flood within the capital city following the recent heavy downpour.

These locations include Gosa Village, Trademore Estate in Lugbe, and the African University of Science and Technology around Galadimawa roundabout. Others are EFAB Estate, Mountain of Fire, Dogon Gada, all located in Lokogoma axis as well as Dutse Alhaji.

Following the casualties that were recorded in some of the above-highlighted locations, the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammed Musa Bello convened emergency security and executive committee meetings where he instructed an inspection of all flood-affected areas and necessary actions to be taken immediately to forestall future occurrence.

Highlighting the recurring decimal in the visited locations, Engr. Ahmed -Hadi said the principal issues are that in all the locations, there are issues of construction on the waterways, inadequacies of hydraulic specters which is drainage facilities that will allow the passage of water, especially the heavy run-up that is coming up from major rivers of wumba, Kabusa as well as other locations within the city.

According to the Executive Secretary, ‘’The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) is here to confirm that the department of development control has already been given a marching order to clear all of such things that we have seen on water courses, because we have noted within Trademore Estate and other adjoining estates along some water courses, we have seen same issues, and we cannot allow this to continue to deter the progress being achieved in terms of providing infrastructure as enshrined in the Abuja Master Plan.’’

Ahmad – Hadi reiterated that as the leader of the technical team, he had a responsibility to make decisions by protecting the lives and properties of FCT residents.

As part of the technical team lead, the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, lamented the continuous temerity by offending developers to take legal steps; adding that these actions by offending parties will not deter them from making enforcements where necessary because there are existing laws that empower them.

While appealing to the public to develop by following all necessary regulations, he added ‘’Our first priority is to save lives and anybody that require prosecution in this matter, definitely, we are going to prosecute.’’

In the same vein, the Director of FCT Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA) Abbas Idriss said they are happy as responders because of the decisions reached to take action while emphasising the recurring flooding in the above-mentioned locations.