There was confusion on Wednesday at the popular Mpaper community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja when bulldozers drove into the community at about 10am, demolishing over 2,000 roadside shanties, containers and other illegal structures said to be obstructing traffic flow on the major roads in the area.
Recall that Mpape has survived several demolitions since 2004 after slums like Idu-Karimo and other squatter settlements were dislodged in Abuja.
LEADERSHIP reports that the latest demolition is coming after over three months of notices and warnings from the authorities.
However, this time, the FCTA explained that the demolition exercise was a thorough sanitation, which was requested by residents and landlords who had made passionate appeals to the Minister of FCT, to save them from the traffic gridlock that has made life unbearable in the area.
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Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Ikharo Attah, said that Mpape residents and landlords association begged the Minister to come to their aid as illegal commercial activities have taken over the road corridors.
Attah noted that the sanitation and demolition was long overdue and it was targeted at roadside shanties and other unapproved buildings obstructing the roads.
“Mpape demolition is requested by the residents and landlords who came to FCTA, requesting the Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, to come and clear the road corridors.
