FCTA Demolishes Illegal Settlements Along Airport Road

The Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) special ministerial task force has dismantled a settlement known as Ruga, located behind the National Park and National Military Cemetery along Airport Road in Abuja.

Under “Operation Sweep”, the task force demolished hundreds of makeshift structures, crafted from sacks, planks, and scrap roofing sheets, razed and set ablaze.

The operation was directed by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and led by FCT Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu.

The task force was mandated to combat illegal settlements, enhance urban security, and “clean the city of all forms of nuisances and criminality.”

Wike had expressed concern that the shanties not only occupy land unlawfully but also serve as hubs for criminal activity, which poses risks to residents and commuters.

FCT Director of Security Service, Adamu Gwari, while explaining the FCTA’s concerns following Tuesday’s operation said that the illegal structures harbour all kinds of criminal elements.

Represented by Dr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary of the FCT Command and Control Centre, Gwari described the Ruga settlement as a collection of illegal structures built on privately owned plots, and added that the site’s proximity to the rail corridor raises significant security issues.

“We have had incidents of the rail tracks being vandalised. As such, demolishing the illegal structures would improve security on the rail corridor,” Gwari said.

He added that illegal occupants disrupt access to these plots, often deterring rightful owners from developing their land.

He further said, to prevent a return of illegal settlements,Wike gave a directive that all plot owners must develop their land or risk having their allocations revoked.

He said, “Most of the plot owners have complained overtime, that they could not access the plots because of these shanties and criminal elements residing here.

“Some of them have tried to take over their plots, but were attacked by the illegal occupants.

“Today, the FCTA has cleared the area and so, we advised them to immediately take possession of their plots of land and begin development.”

Ibrahim Yusuf, Secretary of the displaced Ruga community, lamented the loss of his home, stating that housing in Abuja is unaffordable.

Yusuf said, “We have been living in this community for over 20 years. They kept telling us, ‘you people are living in an illegal area, so leave the place,’ but we have nowhere else to go.”

Yusuf appealed for an alternative from the FCTA. “We are not ready to leave Abuja. We are, therefore, appealing to the FCTA to resettle us. Whatever conditions the administration will give us, we are ready,” he said.

FCTA Demolishes Illegal Settlements Along Airport Road is first published on The Whistler Newspaper