Following the destructive flooding that occurred in Dutse Makaranta four days ago and forecast of an impending flooding disaster in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced the demolition of over 100 buildings constructed on waterways at Dutse Makaranta in Bwari Area Council.
Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah who said the government cannot continue to wait for unwilling residents to vacate the area, said the measure was a proactive one aimed at saving lives, properties and the environment.
Mr Attah who expressed concern that occupiers and owners of the buildings on waterways in the community have deliberately refused to heed the evacuation warnings said the government had no choice but to eject them forcefully.
He pointed out that most of the affected buildings were private schools, and churches where innocent children and worshipers would have been swept away, had the flooding occurred on working days or during fellowship hours.
“Today we are commencing a citywide operation against buildings sitting on water plains and riverbeds. Here in Dutse Makaranta, you could see heavy flooding, we thank God the rain fail on Sunday afternoon at about 1 and 2 pm when many had left the church and school was closed. The water got to the window levels and members had fled. The casualties here would have been extremely massive… two men who where on their beds when the water came the walls to one of the buildings fell on the bed..
we hope that this will send a strong message to all those who have been on water plains and corridors. We thank God that we did not loose any life here. ” Attah said.
One of the residents of Dutse Makaranta Community, Mr Ibrahim Shaibu confirmed that those affected by the demolition were aware that the area was prone to flooding, but ignored all warnings.
Mr Shaibu who claimed to have lived in the community for about 20 years testified that they have never witnessed such flooding that occurred in the last few days, even as he accused the indigenous people of always giving fake hope to the unsuspecting buyers