By Ismaila Ajikobi, Abuja
In a move to tackle the menace of illegal land grabbing activities, the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has said that it would not hesitate to seek the support of the two anti-graft agencies, EFCC, ICPC including Nigerian Police to put a stop to such practices.
The Director of the Department of Development Control, FCTA, Tlp Mukhtar Galadima, made this known during demolition exercise to reclaim over 100 hectares of land in Gosa District of the nation’s capital on Tuesday.
Galadima emphasized the collaboration with EFCC, ICPC, and the Nigerian police to apprehend perpetrators involved in illegal land grabbing activities in the territory.
He highlighted the importance of eliminating land grabbing cases to prevent unsuspecting Nigerians from purchasing properties acquired through deceitful means.
He reiterated the FCTA’s commitment to addressing such incidents, referencing similar actions taken near the train station last year.
The reclaimed land, allocated to a corporate entity for housing estates, was illegally fenced off by encroachers. Galadima assured that all illegal fences would be removed to prevent further encroachment.
He urged prospective land buyers to conduct due diligence by verifying land allocations with relevant government agencies, including the Department of Lands Administration, Development Control, and Urban and Regional Planning.
Regarding sustainability plans, Galadima outlined ongoing efforts to monitor the environment regularly, with particular attention to Gosa District’s development designated by Urban and Regional Planning.
Dr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary of Command and Control at FCTA, condemned land grabbers’ criminal activities, including falsification of documents and violent confrontations with authorities.
He affirmed that the eight perpetrators arrested during the operation would face legal consequences.
