NAN-H-72
Plan
By Uche Bibilari
Abuja, Oct. 13, 2016 (NAN) Mrs Safia Umar, the Acting Coordinator, Department of Development Control, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), has called on FCT residents to respect the Abuja master plan.
Umar spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the demolition of illegal shops and shanties at Gimbiya Street in Area 11 on Thursday.
She said that obeying the guidelines in the Abuja Master had become necessary in order to build a world class city.
Umar said that the area was meant for a rail transit way, adding that the demolition exercise was to restore sanity to the city.
She further said: “Every piece of land in Abuja has a purpose and unless you are allocated that land, you do not have the right over that place.
“Even if you are allocated that land, you must get a building plan approval to develop that place.
“If you are allocated a land for residential and you use it for commercial purpose, we will certainly demolish it.
“ If you are given a land and you decide to build without a building plan approval from a statutory organisation, which is Department of Development Control, then definitely we will come and demolish it.
“There are illegal structures scattered within the city and you can see beautiful buildings coming up and a slum in their middle.
“How do you expect these people to breathe? How do you expect them to live with all the noise? ‘’
Some of the traders, who spoke to NAN, however, lamented their ordeal with many saying they paid as much as N1 million to get a shop at the demolished site.
Mrs Regina Jim, a food vendor, said that notice was not given to them before the commencement of the demolition exercise.
Another food vendor, Mrs Favour Afu, said many of them collect foodstuff from dealers on credit weekly and pay later.
She, however, lamented that many of them have become indebted as a result of the demolition exercise. (NAN)
UU/DO/OJO
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(Edited by David Onilede and controlled by Mufutau Ojo)