THE Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has demolished nine uncompleted terrace duplexes at AB Close, Gwarimpa, Abuja, over alleged illegal construction and failure to provide required approvals and documentation.
News Point Nigeria reports that the affected properties were reportedly built on land said to have been allocated to serving ambassadors about two decades ago, despite claims by some property owners that the developments were backed by legal approvals.
The demolition exercise was carried out by the FHA enforcement task team, which advised Nigerians seeking to acquire properties to follow the appropriate channels, obtain genuine documents and secure all necessary approvals before commencing construction.
Speaking during the exercise, Peter Okpanachi, General Manager of Partnerships and Zonal Coordination at the FHA, said the authority would not permit individuals or developers to act in violation of its rules and regulations.
Responding to complaints from one of the affected property owners at the demolition site, Okpanachi insisted that anyone claiming ownership must provide authentic documents proving that the allocation and construction approvals were legitimate.
“At least we expect that you show us originals of the letters of allocation, which will confirm it is authentic or otherwise,” he said.
He added: “Show us the building plan approval obtained from federal authority for him to carry out this construction.
“Those are the documents we need for now. Also show us evidence of payment.”
The latest demolition is part of a wider crackdown by authorities against buildings allegedly constructed illegally within Abuja.
In March, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, ordered the demolition of structures described as illegally built on plots allocated to foreign missions in the diplomatic zone of Katampe Extension, Abuja.
Wike disclosed that the developer involved, Kabiru Sahara, had been arrested and would face prosecution after the conclusion of ongoing police investigations.
The land in Katampe Extension, located within the diplomatic zone, was originally allocated on March 18, 2008, to 10 embassies for diplomatic residential purposes.
A portion of the same area was also reserved for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) for the construction of a 132/133kV power station.
The FCT Minister had explained that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) discovered that an individual had taken over the land and commenced construction without approval from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
The FHA said the ongoing enforcement measures were aimed at protecting land allocations, ensuring compliance with planning regulations and preventing unauthorised developments across the nation’s capital.