At least eleven residential flats comprising three- and four-bedroom apartments were demolished on Thursday, October 16, in the Apo Dutse area of Abuja by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), sparking fresh debate over how a legally allocated plot could be deemed illegal due to lack of building approval.
The demolition exercise was led by the Director of Development Control at the FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima, who clarified that the affected buildings were constructed in violation of urban development regulations.
According to Galadima, while the plot was legally allocated, the developer failed to obtain the mandatory building plan approval before commencing construction. He explained that development on a legally allocated plot becomes illegal if it lacks approval from relevant authorities.
“This is a statutorily allocated plot,” Galadima said. “The developer applied for building plan approval, but we declined because the site falls too close to a high-tension line and a stream channel. Despite several warnings, stop-work notices, and formal communications, they went ahead with construction.”
He added that the site is located directly beneath a high-tension power line and sits on the right-of-way of a proposed bridge—both factors that violate Abuja’s master plan and pose serious safety concerns.
Galadima revealed that the land allocation was made in error and that the developer had been offered an alternative plot, which they refused to accept. “Instead, they continued building on a site that had no approval,” he said.
On the contentious issue of compensation, Galadima was unequivocal: “Compensation is only given for properties with valid approval that are later affected by government development projects. In this case, there was no approval, and notices were ignored. So, there will be no compensation.”
He also warned that developers who defy regulatory processes could face prosecution and be surcharged for the cost of demolition and site mobilization.
The demolition has ignited public discourse around urban governance and the accountability of both public agencies and private developers. Critics argue that the FCTA should bear part of the responsibility for what it admitted was a wrongful allocation, especially since the developer acted on a document issued by the same government.
Urban planning experts, however, stress that allocation alone does not equate to a right to build.
Key Lessons for Developers
The FCTA emphasized that developers must obtain building plan approval before starting any construction, even on legally allocated plots. Compliance with zoning, environmental, and structural safety regulations is mandatory to avoid legal and financial losses.
Galadima urged developers not to ignore regulatory notices or assume political protection, warning that such actions could lead to demolition and possible prosecution.
“Every notice served is an opportunity to correct a mistake before it becomes irreversible,” he said.
While the FCTA faces growing calls to improve its internal processes and prevent similar administrative lapses in the future, the incident underscores the critical need for all stakeholders to adhere strictly to planning regulations to protect lives, property, and the integrity of Abuja’s master plan.
