“Government has no plan to relocate those that are affected because they built illegally without the relevant land documents and Building Plan Approval,” –FCT Development Control. By FRED ITUA and CHIDINMA IRENE NWOYE As the day slated for the first phase of the demolition of 19 villages draws near, those described by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration as illegal residents have their fears heighten. If the rumored demolition of the 19 villages goes on as planned, over 300,000 residents will be displaced and rendered homeless as some of the villagers whose places have been marked for this onslaught told Abuja Metro.
On the other hand, authorities of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) have given explicit reasons these villages must come under the wrath of bulldozers. Distortion of the Abuja Master-Plan has been cited repeatedly as the primary motive behind the planned demolition. While the superior argument of authorities of the FCDA can’t be washed aside, investigation by Abuja Metro has however revealed that there is more to the demolition of some of the villages beyond the restoration of the Abuja Master-Plan gambit. One of the most popular shantytowns of the FCT, Mpape, which is sometimes regarded as extension of the highbrow Maitama tops the list of the tenterhook settlements. Abuja is abuzz with the rumour of Mpape demolition that even the deaf in town has had the ears filled with the quaking about to descend on the popular town, just across the road from Maitama, the zone meant for the powerful and mighty, hiding in the shadows of a rocky hills at its backyards. Another hill seems to shield Mpape from the front, and with the one at the back, it’s like another Jerusalem the Bible described as living in a fortress surrounded by mountains. But now, not even the guard mounted by the tall rocks would deter the FCT from mowing down Mpape if the threat sails through.
Already, the Mpape planned onslaught has become a matter of high stake gamble and tussle as the residents have petitioned the National Human Rights Commission, asking it to stop the FCT. And the body immediately summoned the FCT to explain why the hundreds of thousands of people here must be stripped of their shelter rights – a fundamental and inalienable right. Mpape residents allege that the FCT wants to strip them of their homes, lands and residential rights and re-sell to the powerful at higher rates. With just a distance away from the new Goodluck Jonathan District (formerly called Maitama Extension), the current occupants of Mpape District who are predominantly peasants and low-income earners are therefore unfortunate to be on the wrong side of history. Reactions from top officials of the FCTA who spoke anonymously gave credence to the investigations carried out by Abuja Metro. They said arrangements are in top gear on how to develop Mpape District and re-allocate the plots of lands to new developers for private and commercial purposes.
They cited the nearness of Mpape District to the New Maitama Extension as the possible reason for its planned demolition irrespective of some of the beautiful houses and well-designed residential estates in the area. The Director of Development Control, Alhaji Yusuf Yahaya told Abuja Metro that the plots of lands in Mpape might be re-allocated to new developers for commercial and private uses. He however added that the relevant agencies of the FCT administration would come up with a plan after the demolition. Efforts to reach the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Information Management, Jemilah Tangaza were not successful at the time of writing this report. Starting from August 31, the other 18 communities slated for demolition are Idu-Karmo, Dape, Tasha, Gwagwa, Saburi, Zauda, Jahi, Gishiri, Mabushi, Kuchigoro, Chika, Aleita, Piwoyi, Lugbe, Pyakassa, Tudun Wada, Dei-Dei and Guzape. To understand and feel the pulse of the affected residents of the 19 villages, Abuja Metro spoke to some of them in the communities.
They expressed divergent views on the planned demolition. Richmond Lawrence, a cab driver is a resident of Kuchigoro, one of the communities to be demolished by the FCDA. The indigene of Imo State has lived in the village for seven months in a room with his family. “It is very bad,” Richmond stated with a sad face. “I feel bad because the rich men forget that they need the poor. Without the rich the poor can’t live and without the poor, the rich can’t live. All fingers are not equal. These big men are greedy. They already have lands, properties, houses but they will still buy the lands after demolition. Where will the poor man run to because it seems they enjoy frustrating the poor. It is not good.” Richmond wants “the federal government to intervene to assist the poor and the average Nigerian. Nigeria belongs to all of us. They should provide mass housing, like in other countries, for the low-income earners. We live in a country where no one cares.
I’m not an indigene so I will not be relocated.” Another resident who spoke to Abuja Metro expressed similar sadness. Daniel Soetan, a media consultant, has been a resident of Mpape for four years in a two-bedroom apartment. “I learnt about the demolition last month,” Daniel said. “I have been a victim of demolition before at Old Karimo when I came to Abuja seven years ago. I was only able to pick out few electronic home appliances from my home. Before I got back there, it had been brought down. I don’t think I want to experience that again. So I want to leave before the bulldozer enters here. The demolition is sad and the question I have been asking is what the government is up to? Daniel accused authorities of FCDA of insensitivity. “I think the government is insensitive, wicked and callous because if this is about a development, then for who?
Why 19 communities all at once? Are they ready to develop these 19 communities or is it all about chasing these people away? What happens after these places have been demolished because I always tell people that where we left at Old Karimo, a lot of people went back there to resettle? I have told people that it is still going to be a part of demolition again. It means that government doesn’t do anything after the demolition. This is all about sending people away.” The last respondent who spoke to Abuja Metro gave a more balanced reaction. Ehizogie Agbondimwin is a businessman and resides in Lugbe. He said: “Demolition is not wrong; it is the manner with which it is carried out that is the problem. Yes these structures are illegal and illegal structures cannot stand. But the government has failed to provide mass housing projects so that people can pay rent. The Nigerian government is not a masses government. The Nigerian government doesn’t care for the people that is why its housing policy has continued to defy successful implementation. “While the action of the FCDA to demolish a place is right, it is important to create new areas, completely developed and provide low-cost mass housing for people like the Shagari low-cost houses all over the country.”
Citing instances from previous demolition experiences where Mallam El-Rufai did not provide alternative housing for the poor before sending the bulldozers, some residents of Mpape community have dragged FCDA before an Abuja High Court sitting in the Bwari Area Council, under Justice Abubakar Kutigi, following the planned demolition of the community. Spokesman of Mpape residents, Mr. Emmanuel Afu insisted that the position of Mpape residents is that their houses should not be demolished without making alternative resettlement plans. He said: “The residents of Mpape are against the pronouncement on the demolition that will commence next month and to avoid crisis we decided to come to court. We are saying the action of the FCDA is an infringement on the rights of the residents and that the court should intervene for the government to resettle them and also give them enough time to prepare themselves. “We are not against the decision of the government, because land in Abuja is owned by the federal government and whenever the government decides to use the land, nobody can say no and Mpape people are not saying that the government cannot use its land, they are saying that before demolition commences, government should resettle them.”
Stating the true position of authorities of the FCDA, the Public Relations Officer of Development Control, Mrs. Mudasiru Josie said: “It is erroneous to say that 19 villages are going to be destroyed when it is only the shanties and illegal structures within these villages that will be affected. The indigenes will not be affected until they are resettled by the government. “Government has no plan to relocate those that are affected because they built illegally without the relevant land documents and Building Plan Approval.”
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