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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has flayed the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over its planned demolition of some parts of Trademore Estate in Lugbe, Abuja as a result of the flooding.
Last month, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, had declared the Estate a disaster zone because of the reoccurring loss of lives and property because of the flood.
Residents of Trademore Estate had last week petitioned the FCTA Permanent Secretary through their lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), over the planned demolition of 60 houses in the residential estate.
Weighing on the matter, National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, said plans to demolish the estate after its development plan was approved by the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) as far back as 2004 makes the whole demolition agenda a nullity.
Onwubiko stated that if the FCTA should demolish the houses, it would add to the poll of 28 million Nigerians who lack access to decent and affordable housing.
Meanwhile, he expressed concerns over the recurring collapse of buildings within Abuja, saying the latest collapse of a building in the Lifecamp area of Abuja again reinforces the fact that the FCTA officials are grossly indulging in compromise.
Onwubiko said: “The planned demolition of the Trademore Estate by the FCTA is an anomaly that should never stand, not after the estate was approved by the same Administration nearly 20 years ago.
“The remote and immediate causes of the flooding can be dealt with by town planners within the FCTA without bringing down the roof of hundreds of home owners whose houses were authentically and originally approved by the FCTA.
“The planned injustice all in the name of demolition must stop immediately.”
