FCTA’ll Not Let Illegal Markets Obstruct Road Construction

By: Wisdom Acka

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it would not allow illegal markets and other unapproved settlements to obstruct and delay road construction.

Director, FCT Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, who disclosed this on Thursday during clearance operations on the N16 road corridor, warned traders on such sites to immediately vacate and pave way for unhindered work.

Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement, Hassan Ogbole, who represented the Director said that those who wished to operate markets should liaise with municipal authorities to provide them designated spaces.

He said: “We are standing on the corridor of N16 Road. We started this exercise yesterday from the beginning and we are taking it to Ring Road 3. Contract had already been awarded for this project by the FCT Administration but the contractor could not proceed further due to constraints of illegal market in this corridor and other illegal structures. There is a public toilet here on the road corridor too. The contract is limited to the contractor alone, removal of structures is within the purview of FCT Administration and it lies squarely on Development Control Department. In this case now we are synergizing with other related departments particularly, security agencies, Parks and Recreation and others”.

“The Contractor is already on ground. This is the third time we are visiting this area. If they (traders) come back, we will come back. We have given them more than enough notices. We will advise them where they are operating within road corridors that are not sanctioned by the authority, they should vacate such locations and liaise with the Abuja Municipal Area Council or Urban Affairs Department and they will be catered for,” he added.