HURIWA Leads Protesters against Planned Demolition of Trademore Estate

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) Tuesday staged a protest at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) against the planned demolition of Trademore Estate, in Lugbe, Abuja to mitigate the risk of flooding in the estate.
The National Coordinator HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, who led a group of placard carrying protesters, described the planned demolition as arbitrary, unjust and an act of grave injustice.
“Today, we gather to raise our voices against this injustice. We demand that the FCTA reconsider their plans and seek alternative solutions to address any concerns regarding flooding and safety without destroying the homes of innocent families. We call upon the FCTA to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of it’s citizens,” Onwubiko said.
He warned that the move by the FCTA threatened to strip countless families of their homes and exacerbate the housing crisis in the country.
He referred to the alarming statistics by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria which estimated that 28 million Nigerians are lacking access to decent housing.
The HURIWA coordinator insisted the Trademore Estate was approved by the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) in 2004 and has remained a sanctuary for its residents who contribute to the fabric of the society for almost two decades.
The civil rights advocacy group urged the Permanent Secretary FCTA, Olusade Adesola to immediately halt all plans for the demolition of Trademore insisting the estate was developed in 2007 with the developers rightfully allocated the land after obtaining Development Plan approval.
“Those houses were built with substantial bank loans and adhere to the approved plans. To demolish them now would be an act of gross injustice, undermining the principles of fairness, legality and due process,” he said.
The national coordinator said l the human rights body stands in solidarity with the residents of Trademore Estate, who have protested and petitioned the FCTA in an effort to
save their homes, adding the fight was not just for themselves but for every Nigerian who dreams of owning a safe and affordable home.
HURIWA also expressed concern over the recurring collapse of buildings within the FCT notably the recent one at Lifecamp, which it described as another reminder for FCTA officials to prioritise safety and wellbeing of residents.
It called upon the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into these incidents and take immediate measures to ensure the structural integrity of buildings across the FCT.