The Department of Development Control, FCT Administration, FCTA, has issued a 24-hour demolition notice to operators of illegal markets and shanties along Karmo–Dei-Dei Road corridor.
NAN reported that over 500 illegal structures and shanties, situated along the road corridor were marked for demolition.
The Sector Monitor and Assistant Director in the department, Mr Garba Jibril, who led the exercise in Abuja on Monday, stated that the affected owners were earlier served with several notices.
Jibril added that the Director of Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, had held a sensitisation meeting with critical stakeholders on the matter.
He explained that demolishing the structures was necessary as they constitute a nuisance on the road in addition to heavy traffic, particularly on their market days.
Jibril added that their activities were equally emitting environmental hazards in the area, which, according to him, the FCT Administration frowned at.
The team lead also disclosed that the FCTA had awarded a contract for the construction of Life Camp–Dei-Dei Road.
He, however, said that the traders’ continuous stay on the road corridor was preventing the contractors from moving to the site.
According to him, the 24-hour notice is not to be played with and those who refuse to comply will have themselves to blame.
He also said that the traders have been asked to move to the designated market called Karmo Market, adding that the market was fully developed and equipped with necessary facilities.
“But the traders have been reluctant to move. We have had several meetings with the relevant stakeholders, including traditional leaders in the area, to get them to move but they remained adamant,” he said.