Flooding: FCTA commences demolition of over 100 buildings

By Editor

The Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA has commenced demolition of over 100 buildings constructed on waterways at Dutse Makaranta, a town in Bwari Area Council of the territory.

The decision followed the failure of the property owners to adhere to prior warnings and flood outlook for the area.

Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Mr Attah Ikharo who led the demolition team on Wednesday to the community, said it would be very irresponsible for any government to wait for residents who were not willing to obey extant directives.

The Administration said it could no longer wait for unwilling residents to comply with early warnings to save lives, after the destructive flooding that occurred in the community four days ago.

"Today, we are commencing a citywide operation against buildings sitting on water plains and riverbeds. Here in Dutse Makaranta, you could see heavy flooding. We thank God the rain fell on Sunday afternoon at about 1pm and 2pm when many had left the church and school was closed. The water got to the window levels and members had fled.  The casualties here would have been extremely massive.

"Most persons in this area were out and only two men were on their beds. When the water came one of the walls to one of the buildings fell on the bed of one man and the man fled his house and packed everything quickly. 

"We hope that this will send a strong message to all those who have been living on water plains and corridors. 

"We thank God that we did not lose any life here, but we wonder how people will put up buildings without a building plan approval and now they are telling us to try and understand. 

"FCTA has marked the buildings from foundation level, they have been warned to leave that this is a disaster zone. They kept marking at window and roofing levels, warning them to leave that flooding was coming, but they never believed", he added. 

A resident of the Community, Ibrahim  Shaibu confirmed that those affected by the demolition were actually aware that the area was prone to flooding, but ignored all warnings. 

Shaibu who claimed to have lived in the community for about 20 years, acknowledged that the flooding that occurred few days ago was unprecedented, but thanked God that no life was lost.

He claimed that the indigenous people should be blamed for whatever destruction the flooding has caused, as they have continued to resell the plots after each demolition exercise.