FCT: Wike To Meet IGP Over Demolished Police Duplexes

By Ayodele Oni

Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister, Nyesom Wike, a Lawyer, has clarified why some buildings erected on the land acquired by the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja were demolished.

Wike, who disclosed this during an on-the-spot assessment of the demolished structures on Friday, said the buildings were erected despite repeated warnings and the denial of development approval by the FCT Department of Development Control.

He said he will meet with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, following the exercise.

According to him, the buildings were built under a high-tension power line at Apo Dutse District, Abuja, supposedly belonging to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

It would be recalled that staff of FCT Department of Development Control had, on Thursday, demolished not fewer than eleven units of flats, comprising three and four bedrooms in Dutse area of the Nation’s capital, Abuja, which led to the arrest of the Department’s staff by the Police.

Wike stated that “Well, it’s unfortunate. Yesterday, I got a call from Development Control that they had to come here to stop some buildings from going on.

“You can see the high-tension line, and that is dangerous. The land was given to the Nigerian Police, and they applied for approval, but Development Control refused because of the high-tension risk.

“They refused to stop, and Development Control had to act. Unfortunately, our officers were arrested by the Nigerian Police, and that’s why I have to take this matter up with the IGP. I’m sure he may not be aware, but we cannot allow this.

“The Government cannot allow anyone to break the rules. Look at the high-tension line. How would anybody take such a risk? Even if there was no high-tension line, once you are denied approval, you cannot go ahead as if you are above the law.”