In a significant move, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) led by FCT Minister and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, executed the demolition of a market located in the Asokoro area of Abuja.
The market situated on Hassan Musa Katsina Street, in close proximity to Kpaduma II in Asokoro Extension, Abuja, allegedly served as a haven for suspected hoodlums and drug dealers.
Mukhtar Galadima, the Director of the Department of Development Control, highlighted the rationale behind the action while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria. He emphasized that the presence of the market posed a tangible threat to both residents of the vicinity and passersby.
Galadima conveyed that despite persistent efforts by the FCT Administration to restore order to the area, it had been transformed into a hub for criminal activities. He articulated the Administration’s resolve not to permit this state of affairs to persist.
“The operation will help us get rid of the hoodlums and drug dealers that have taken over the place. We had demolished the place about three times, but the nuisances rebuilt and continued their activities. This time around, the demolished market will remain demolished. We need to sanitize the place and enhance the aesthetic quality of the environment. It is also part of the current administration’s policy of sanitizing the city, and this is one of the areas we are commencing the exercise,” Galadima stated.
Earlier this week, SaharaReporters had disclosed that the FCTA carried out another demolition—this time targeting a fully completed multimillion-naira duplex allegedly constructed on an unapproved plot of land.
Situated on Plot 226, Cadastral Zone A02 Wuse 1, Wuse, Zone 6 District, the duplex reportedly belonged to Oba Oyebade Lipede, the Alake of Egba land. However, it was purportedly taken over by Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Kamba and Alhaji Ademu Teku, who were said to have erected the structure despite warnings to the contrary.
Galadima reiterated that extensive investigations were conducted to ascertain the legitimate owner of the plot, given conflicting claims by the involved parties. He emphasized that the FCTA’s stance remained unswerving—non-compliance with development rules and regulations would not be condoned.
Moreover, it was revealed that the FCDA had directed its officials to compile a comprehensive list of serviced and vacant plots of land, alongside abandoned buildings within their respective districts. A memo obtained by our correspondence from SaharaReporters detailed that the FCDA instructed “all the sector monitors” to submit this list, underlining the FCDA’s commitment to monitoring urban development and ensuring adherence to stipulated regulations.