The Federal Capital Territory Administration, on Thursday, pulled down over 30 houses sitting on flood plains at Trademore Estate.
The FCT Minister Taskforce Team, led by the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah, revealed that over 100 houses were earlier marked for demolition but 30 would be brought down immediately.
According to him, the estate witnesses perennial flooding and the administration has been engaging residents for years.
A final decision was reached to pull down the houses to end dangerous floods in the estate, he said.
He also restated that the administration would not compensate anyone because there was no building plan, no approval, and no allocation on the flood plain.
According to him, "There has been excessive development on the flood plain in Trademore Estate by some persons and this is very worrisome.
“All the houses that are going down were marked and some have been marked as long as three years ago.
“Some were marked at foundation level, window level, roofing level.
“The final marking was about four days ago. And we gave them 48 hours and even gave them additional 24 hours."
He continued, "For now, 30 houses are going but over 100 were marked but we are still engaging critical stakeholders around there.
“After removing the first 30 houses, we will engage with them; we’ll look at how we can use Land Solution Act to find solution.
"Like what some of them are saying that the developer of Trademore Estate should be charged to court, they have the locus standi to take him to court.
"We are very keen on getting the structures out so that water can pass and lives are saved in the city."
"We are not going to give any compensation because there was no building approval," he noted.
One of the residents who identified herself as Sadat Bankole, said she has been leaving in that area for over 10 years, noting that if the demolition will save and prevent further loss of lives, then she is in support.
"What has been happening here is not palatable. Why is flooding constant in this area in the last few years?
“My view is that if people's lives are involved then demolition should take place so that the place would be free from flooding.
"My first experience of flooding here was about seven years ago and then it stopped but in the last three years,there has been constant flooding every time it rains.
“When the rain starts you cannot come out and you cannot come in," she said.
She called for the prosecution of the developer of Trademore Estate, for flood diversion.
"Yes, there is a diversion of the flood plain. I was told where the developer built houses are the roots of the water and the water was diverted.
Another resident, Ike Emmanuel also asked that the developer be charged in court.
He also urged the government to force the developer to accept responsibility for the loss of lives and theselling of water plain properties to Nigerians.
