The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Friday, defended the demolition of 11 duplexes in the Dutse District of Abuja, stating that the government will continue to enforce land rules in the FCT.

The Minister made the statement when he visited the site located at Plot 189, Cadastral Zone B14, Dutse District, which he noted belonged to the Nigerian Police Force.

The PUNCH earlier reported that the FCT Administration demolished the duplexes on Thursday, noting that the buildings were erected under high-tension power lines and along a stream channel.

Director of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, who led the demolition exercise, said the FCTA had initially denied approval for the land, noting that the construction had continued, despite several notices ordering the developer to stop work.

He added that the department would recommend the provision of an alternative plot to the Nigeria Police for the construction of their buildings.

Speaking during his visit to the site, Wike said he would meet with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, describing the situation as unfortunate.

“Well, it’s unfortunate. Yesterday, I got a report from the development control that they have to come here to stop some buildings that are going on. You can see the high tension. And so that is unfortunate, it’s been built by the Nigerian Police.

“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. The government is here to enforce rules. The government is not here to break the rules,” he said.

The Minister also noted that the Police had been denied approval of the plot, stating that the officials from the Development Control Department acted within their right to enforce the law, adding that some of the officials had been arrested by the Police during the demolition exercise.

“They applied for approval, but the Development Control said no. There’s no way they would approve. Look at where the high tension is. So, they asked them to stop, but they refused to stop. And then they have to come here to make sure that the buildings are brought down.

“They were arrested by the Nigerian Police. So I have to come and see things for myself. 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 into your hands because you do not have the force,” Wike stated.

Meanwhile, Galadima explained the sequence of violations that led to the demolition, reiterating that the Police ignored multiple stop-work notices served since July.

“This is Plot 189, Cadastral Zone B14, Dutse District, which was allocated to the Nigerian Police Force for institutional development in 2018. We came to the site, we saw the position of the high tension, and we declined to approve.

“And we wrote to them that in view of the position of the high tension, we can’t approve. They went ahead, excavated, and we served them notice. They ignored the notice.

“That was in July. They ignored the notice, and then the Department of Engineering wrote to us that they want to construct a bridge, because there is always a flood here. And the foot of the bridge is going to be part of where these buildings are.

“So we wrote to them, attaching a copy of that letter, and it was ignored. Looking at the risk involved, we can’t just fold our arms, because should anything happen, we’ll be held responsible. That’s why we had to react, and we acted yesterday,” he stated. (The PUNCH)