The Department of Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), demolished 11,705 shanty colonies across Abuja from January to October.

The department also generated N2.5 billion and created 13,873 direct and indirect jobs within the period, says Mukhtar Galadima, director of development control, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, FCTA. 

Mr Galadima, who disclosed this during a media briefing on the department’s activities in Abuja on Sunday, explained that the shanties and illegal developments were demolished in conjunction with the Ministerial Enforcement Task Force Team.

He identified the affected areas as Kabusa, Kasuwan Dare, Galadimawa junction, Mabushi scavenger colony and Gudu District along Oladipo Diya Way.

The official said the department also removed obstructing structures on waterways at Lugbe, Jahi and Lokogoma.

This, according to him, has curtailed the flooding being experienced within the city in recent years.

He also said that the encroachment on rights of way and security black spots were equally dismantled in collaboration with security agencies in the FCT.

The director also disclosed that 1,764 building plan applications were received within the period, out of which 1,422 were granted approvals, including backlogs from previous years.

On revenue generation, Mr Galadima said that the N2.5 billion was generated from building plan approval and land use contraventions from January to October.

He said the amount represents 68.5 per cent of the N3.7 billion target for the year, adding that of the N2.5 billion, N1.7 billion was generated from building plan approval alone.

The director also explained that the 13,873 direct and indirect jobs were created at different stages of construction at various sites as approved by the department.

He added that the department established regional offices to decentralise monitoring and enforcement activities in the area councils and Satellite Towns.

(NAN)