CHIKA OKEKE of LEADERSHIP SUNDAY observes that Kabusa, a hidden, but fast growing community in the FCT appears unworried about the administration’s impending restoration of the Abuja master plan, unlike other slum settlements already yielding to the plan.
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Kabusa community is a dual settlement having both the features of urbanised and undeveloped areas in one locality. This is why it is always difficult for a first-time visitor to actually appreciate the fact that village is indeed a slum settlement. Located about 10 kilometres away from Sunny Ville Estate in Lokogoma district is a thickly populated Gbagyi settlement, but other settlers of the Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Tiv among others, are also resident in the village. Regrettably however,? within the residential areas, there are spots discovered to have been used permanently for indiscriminate dumping of refuse.?
LEADERSHIP SUNDAY noticed that some residential buildings have such inscriptions as KBL, SGB which some residents say are owned by the Gbagyi natives. But the good thing aboutthe community is the discovery of new houses? which are gradually springing up, especially within the forest area, located very close to the rock. Majority of the houses are built with mud block, even as many of the houses have to make-do with makeshift toilets. Expectedly of course, the several houses without toilets have outrightly conspired to ensure that the residents defecate indiscriminately? within the surroundings while others defecate on the rock. This development, naturally has put the people at the risk of contacting both airborne and waterborne diseases.
Interestingly and contrary to expectations, kabusa boasts of basic amenities like electricity, borehole, well water, a Local Education Authority primary school and a Junior Government Secondary School; established in September 1, 2005.
Investigations by LEADERSHIP SUNDAY further revealed that there is an ongoing rehabilitation of the Kabusa Township road from Pseli to Zhimi with Asphalt and drainages on both sides; the contract of which was awarded to S & M Construction Company by the Abuja Municipal Area Council. As such, labourers were seen working assiduously on the road.
However, at the health centre, it was uncovered that the Primary Health Care Centre, built by the area council is under lock and key? without any sign that the centre had been attending to patients. A trader who plies her trade beside the clinic says, “Today is half-day and they have gone home. Go to the gate, you will see their contact telephone numbers, copy it and call them, may be they will attend to you. But if you are seriously sick, visit a nearby private hospital along the expressway for treatment.”
The village which has consistently witnessed daily influx of people because houses here are relatively cheaper when compared to other slum settlements in the FCT, is littered with dirts, broken bottles and faeces; which has not dettered? the crowd who daily visit in search of accommodation.
Mrs Ifeyinwa Aku owns a mini provision shop in Kabusa, she said? since the cost of rent is cheaper in the village, there is a huge influx of people into the community daily.Aku says, “Many have been coming to this village everyday to look for vacant houses, may be because the cost of renting house here is cheaper than other villages in the FCT. The problem is that it’s not easy to see a vacant house within our area but if you go close to the rock, you will see some houses that are yet to be completed. It may be that the owners do not have money to complete the building but when you pay, the owner will immediately complete the house and you will pack in. If it’s a single room, you will get it at the cost of N30, 000 per annum and some landlords can even collect N25, 000. You will hardly get a room self contain, but if you see it, the price is between N60, 000 to N70, 000.”
Speaking on the much touted? demolition exercise, Aku simply responds, “We have been hearing that they will come to demolish but they have not served us any notice yet.@
Another resident, Laide Akogun, owns a kiosk where he sells recharge cards and phone accessories. He confided in the reporter that he chose to live in Kabusa village because the house rent is cheap. Narrating his experience, he said, “I have lived here for more than six years and I have no regrets because life is cheap and one can even buy foodstuffs at a cheap prices.”
LEADERSHIP’s investigations further reveal that some natives are however in the business of selling lands to other settlers inspite of the FCT administration’s warnings that the natives should desist from illegal sale of land in the communities.
To buttress the claims, Miss Yetunde Fagbemi took the reporter to the house of a Gbagyi native, whom she discloses has been saddled with the responsibility of selling lands to other settlers in the village. Though she did not disclose the man`s name, she however admitted that she purchased a parcel of land measuring about 25 by 25 from him during the raining season at the cost of N20, 000.
According to her, “It’s from their house that people get land and they are the ones selling land. He`s not the chief but one of the indigenes that sells land. He measures 50 by 50 and 25 by 25 but I don’t know the specific price that he will sell now. I am currently building the one I bought from him during the raining season.”
Ask if the village will soon come under the wheels of the bulldozers, she notes: “It appears to be secured… and even if they want to demolish, it’s not now. Before they will do it, you must have even gained the money twith which you bought? the land to building your house.
At the palace of Chief of Kabusa Yohanna Koche, LEADERSHIP SUNDAY learnt that the traditional ruler was absent and may not return home until late in the evening as was confirmed by the daughter, Helen Yohanna. “My father went out and I don’t know when he will be? home, but it may be in the evening.”
The Public Relations Officer, Development Control Department of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, (AMMC) Mrs Josie Mudashiru told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that every Nigerian is entitled to apply for land. She says anybody claiming to have acquired land from the local chiefs is a criminal. According to her, “Every Nigerian should be entitled to apply for land. The Gbagyi settlement is expanding with various excuses that they want to expand because of their children but until those people are resettled, we cannot demolish the houses belonging to the indigenes. The non indigenes’ houses should not be there in the first place because they have to get the land from the government. Without getting the land from the government, it means that it was bought from the chief. If anybody tells you that he bought land from the local chief, the person is a criminal, because they know that they are not supposed to buy land from the chiefs.