Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has condemned the Nigerian Police Force for using force to flout urban development regulations, leading to the demolition of its own multi-million naira estate in Gudu district of the territory.
LEADERSHIP had reported that the FCTA on Thursday demolished a nearly-completed mini-estate in Dutse district because the developers ignored repeated warnings that the land was unsuitable for construction.
The estate, located on Sam Mbakwe Street near Cedar Crest Hospital, with over 10 duplexes and four two-storey duplexes, was built under a high-tension power line within a stream channel earmarked for a future bridge.
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The minister’s remarks came yesterday during an on-the-spot assessment of the demolished site, a visit prompted by the arrest of FCT enforcement officials by police officers a day earlier.
Inspecting the rubble beneath high-tension electricity cables, Wike described the situation as “unfortunate” and a clear risk to public safety.
He detailed how the FCT Department of Development Control had previously denied approval for the construction due to the dangerous location.
“They applied for approval but the development control said no.
There’s no way they grant approval. Look at where the high tension is.
“They asked them to stop, they refused to stop. And then they have to come here to make sure that the buildings are brought down. But they were arrested by the Nigerian police. So I have to come and see things for myself,” he said.
The minister emphasised that no institution, regardless of its authority, is above the law.
“Assuming that there’s not even high tension, the mere fact that the development control has refused to give you approval, you cannot take it in your hands because you have the force.
“Government is here to enforce rules. Government is not here to break the rules. I’m sure the IG is not around, he may not be aware, but I have to take it up to the appropriate authority that we cannot allow this,” he said.
The director of Development Control, Mr. Mukhtar Galadima, identified the property as Plot 189, Cadastral Zone B14, Dutse District, allocated to the Nigerian Police Force in 2018 for institutional development.
“The force approached the Department of Development Control for approval to commence development. We came to the site, we saw the position of the high tension, we declined to grant approval. And we wrote to them that in view of the position of the high tension, we can’t grant approval,” Galadima explained.
He revealed that despite formal notices served in July, the police continued construction.