Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday reclaimed over 100 hectares of land in Gosa District from encroachers, following a demolition exercise carried out by its Department of Development Control.
The Director of the Department, Mukhtar Galadima, said the exercise was done in collaboration with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other agencies to apprehend perpetrators involved in illegal land grabbing activities.
He stressed the need to curb land grabbing cases to prevent unsuspecting Nigerians from purchasing properties acquired through deceitful means.
He reiterated FCTA’s commitment to addressing such incidents, referencing similar actions taken near the Idu train station last year.
He also assured that all illegal fences would be removed to prevent further encroachment. The reclaimed land, allocated to a corporate entity for housing estates, was illegally fenced off by encroachers.
He urged prospective land buyers to conduct due diligence by verifying land allocations with relevant government agencies, including the Department of Lands Administration, Development Control, and Urban and Regional Planning.
The Secretary of Command and Control at FCTA, Dr. Peter Olumuji, condemned land grabbers for their criminal activities, including falsification of documents and altercation with authorities.
He affirmed that the eight persons arrested during the operation would face legal consequences.
The CEO of Ivory Shelters Nigerian Limited, Hamza Adamu, confirmed the legitimate allocation of the land for mixed-use development, including commercial and residential purposes. He assured ongoing infrastructure development and security measures, emphasizing affordability and client protection.
