The FCT Administration Department of Development Control weekend demolished over 200 structures at the Nuwalege community on the Airport Road corridor in Abuja, to pave the way for the reclaim of a swathe of land which the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) plans to use for the expansion of the presidential fleet area.

In rationalisation of the exercise, the Director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the land was occupied by squatters.

He said the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had given the approval to remove the squatters after the Chief of Air Staff had on October 23, 2023 notified the FCTA of their intention to remove the illegal occupiers from the said land.

“We informed the residents residing on the Nigeria Air Force land about the impending action and granted them a two-month window to pack their belongings.

“When the Air Force approached us, we told them about the FCTA policy on relocation and resettlement of indigenous communities. However, other non-indigenes are to be moved out of the location so that the Air Force can take over their land,” Galadima said.

He stressed that sensitisation was carried out during the Yuletide for the squatters to remove their valuables after the structures were marked for demolition.

He added that properties belonging to indigenes were untouched because statutorily, they have to be relocated and compensated.

“During the demolition process, approximately 150 buildings were razed, with an estimated 70 more buildings slated for removal before completion,” he said.

Galadima urged the NAF not to commence the construction of the presidential fleet without obtaining approval from the Department of Development Control, insisting they will have to submit their development proposals for vetting and approval before they can commence any development on the reclaimed land.

Some of the residents were non indigenes, who said they acquired the land with the assurance that government had ceded the village to the indigenes. (THISDAY)