The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it will not allow illegal settlements, markets, and other unapproved activities to hamper its resolve to ensure massive road construction in the FCT, warning traders on such sites to immediately vacate.
Director of the FCT Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, disclosed this yesterday during further clearance operations on the N16 road corridor.
Note that N16 is a long stretch of road corridor stretching from Shehu Shagari way into Gwarinpa District to Jahi up to Airport Road. Most of these parts have been overtaken by illegal settlements and corner markets.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement, Hassan Ogbole, the Director said those who wish to operate markets should liaise with municipal authorities to provide them with designated spaces.
He said, “We are standing on the corridor of N16 Road. We started this exercise yesterday from the beginning and we are taking it to Ring Road 3. The contract had already been awarded for this project by the FCT Administration but the contractor could not proceed further due to constraints of illegal market in this corridor and other illegal structures. There is a public toilet here on the road corridor too.
“The contract is limited to the contractor alone, removal of structures is within the purview of FCT Administration and it lies squarely on Development Control Department. In this case, now we are synergising with other related departments, particularly security agencies, Parks and Recreation, and others.
“The contractor is already on the ground. This is the third time we have visited this area. If they (traders) come back, we will come back. We have given them more than enough notice.
“We will advise them where they are operating within road corridors that are not approved by the authority, they should vacate such locations and liaise with the Abuja Municipal Area Council or Urban Affairs Department of FCDA and they will be catered for.”
On his part, Secretary of Command and Control in the FCTA, Dr Peter Olumuji, said most residents of the FCT had been complaining about insecurity in the city centre and that one of the contributing factors is the preponderance of shanties on road corridors.
