FCTA Vows To Prosecute Illegal Estate Developers
By: Wisdom Acka
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has vowed to to prosecute defaulting and illegal estate developers at the Urban and Regional Tribunal.
Making this disclosure today during demolition of encroachment and other illegal structures on water channels in Kukwaba District, the Director, FCT Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima wondered why developers would flagrantly abuse development guidelines and approvals and think they would get away with it.
The Director also hinted that the FCT Administration is considering dragging the recalcitrant developers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for causing both government and off takers economic losses.
Galadima, who was accompanied on the monitoring, inspection and demolition esexercise by top senior management staff of the Department, insisted that the actions of many of the developers amounted to economic crimes, which the EFCC could beam its searchlight on.
In his words: “The place was earmarked for commercial and recreational activities. The developer is not following what was approved for here. You can visibly see the nature of this infraction. This area is a floodable plain and marshy area, which is being converted to structures for residential purpose.”
“We felt it is very bad and the best thing to do is to nip it at this stage. It is an econimic waste. You cannot violate the laws by building like this and then we come and demolish and you go free. We have to change the tactics. We are serious about it and we will prosecute them”, he vowed.
The Director regretted that the developers already knew that the area they encroached upon was a reserved green area, because it is located on water channels yet they were illegally selling to off takers and also building on it.
Responding to questions on an earlier inspection tour of property developments adjoining Aso Radio premises on Katampe Hills, Galadima explained: “There are two issues there..the issue of encroachment on the road corridor and then another encroachment on the adjourning development.”
“We cannot compromise any encroachment on road corridor. We have to remove it,” he stressed.
“But the encroachment from the other side of the developer, we can look at it, based on its merits, considering its consequences on the government and the developer. Then we come up with the most acceptable recommendation to the FCT Administration”, Galadima added.
