The FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, has directed the Development Control Department of the FCT to remove “all shanties springing up in the capital.
Mohammed who gave the directive in a statement by the ministry's Chief Press Secretary, Mr Mohammed Sule, in Abuja on Monday, said the springing up of the shanties was unacceptable.?
The statement said the minister emphasised that “we cannot afford to continue this way, otherwise we will be faced with all manner of social problems, including threat to security. ’’
It noted that the shanties were springing up, in spite of the 3,500 shanties demolished along Airport Road recently.
“Development Control Department should re-double its effort to rid the city of all illegal structures and occupants of illegal structures should vacate them immediately. ’’
The statement said that a high-powered task force would be constituted to assist in clearing the back log of shanties and illegal structures in Abuja, stressing that government was determined to uphold the sanctity of the Abuja Master Plan.
It assured that in order to reduce pressure on the Development Control Department, the FCT Administration would fast-track re-settlement and compensation of affected residents.