The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, warned that those involved in illegal means of acquiring land in the territory would be prosecuted.
The Director Department of Development Control, Malam Murktar Galadima, gave the warning after pulling down illegal structures built in Lugbe, Phase V of the Federal Captial City, FCC, NAN reports.
According to him, the administration was going to prosecute anyone found developing a plot without valid proof of ownership.
“It is land grabbing when individual claims to own about 149 plots, fence it, and then combine it as an estate.
“They start development without valid title or approve plan.
“Two weeks ago, we came and marked the structures for removal but they fail to obey the order, and they continued building it.
“That is why we are enforcing the action. We came this morning to clear the illegal structures.
“We removed some, but in the process, they incited people within the area to stop the exercise. We are going to restrategise and return for the exercise,” he said.
He also stated that those behind the illegal development are not known but the department would continue to resist the illegality.
“We are going to show the erring developers that there is law and government despite their resistance we will not stop.
”Residents who build without legal approval by the department of development control will be referred to as “land grabbers,” he added.
The Director also said that the department was planning Lugbe to be in conformity with the Abuja master plan of the FCC.
He also reiterated that prosecution of land grabbers would be a general exercise across the Federal Capital Territory.
