No regrets over demolitions of Kpokpogiri’s N700m mansion – FCTA

0
414

By Kingsley Madaki

Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA, has said it has no regrets whatsoever for the demolition of a multi-million naira mansion in Abuja on Saturday morning belonging to popular Nigerian celebrity, Prince Joseph Kpokpogiri.

It was gathered that, officials of the Federal Housing Authority, FHA, alongside its Managing Director, Gbenga Ashafa that visited the site of the building three days ago in company of some top Management team of FCTA admitted that the plot of land originally belongs to FHA, but denied that proper building plan was approved before the mansion was erected.

FHA further explained that notices to stop work were served at different stages and time of the work, but Kpokpogiri refused to comply.

The Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority , Engr. Shehu Hadi who was also in the team that visited the site, said that the road alignment had been done long ago and FHA was duly notified.

Hadi noted that the road alignment which the demolished building obstructs was designed to serve as an important bypass to the Abuja-Keffi axis.

He added that any plan to realign the road because of the building would be difficult and not fair judgement to those that it would affect, considering that the demolished building was not in existence earlier when the plan started.

Also speaking, the Director, Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima said the Multi-billion Naira Mansion, located in the highbrow District of Guzape, Abuja, was unapproved, and can’t be allowed to override public interest.

Galadima noted that the Mansion sitting on a rock in the fast developing district is an obstruction to a major road network, connecting the popular Apo Bridge to many parts of the city.

According to him, FHA was duly allocated the Area in the district to carry out its Mass Housing programme.

He however, clarified that when the road network of the district was officially realigned, FHA was promptly notified that some plots of lands within its area have been affected.

Galadima added that FHA was ordered not to allow any further development on the affected plots as replacement plots will be given to them.