The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has promised to reclaim a parcel of land allocated to FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board encroached upon by developers in Gwagwalada Area Council.
FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, gave the assurance when she went around the disputed areas on Thursday in Abuja.
Aliyu described the encroachment on the land as lawless and unacceptable to the FCTA.
She explained that the essence of citing the pilgrims’ board in Gwagwalada, was to decongest the city centre with a view to ensuring development in satellite towns.
Aliyu also said that the action was also to stimulate activities in rural communities as enshrined in the Abuja Master Plan.
“When did this place become residential? All these properties must be pulled down and that is the truth. This is the peak of lawlessness and it is not acceptable.
“This property is for the Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board and the Hajj Camp, hopefully, the 2020 Hajj operations will take place here.
“But unfortunately, this might have been done on the assumption that the board is already in the town and will not be using here again.
”So whatever encroachment we have here will be taken out. This is very clear. It’s unfortunate that this has happened. But these culprits must be brought to book,” Aliyu said.
Also speaking on the fate of economic trees planted by indigenous people, Aliyu said no compensation would be paid before removing the trees.
According to her, the people that planted the trees would be made to pay for their lawlessness.
“They are causing us so much to uproot or remove all that they did here, so there is nothing like compensation.
” In fact, with whose permission they went upon the land to plant? It’s unacceptable, and lawlessness must just stop in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Everybody sees any land, and just moves in to construct or plant something, and the next thing they are asking for is compensation.
” That has become the order of the day, and a means of livelihood. In fact, they should be made to pay for damages. With this, I think lawlessness will stop in FCT,” she said.