The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished more than 1,000 shacks and illegal structures obstructing a major road corridor in Karsana, near Bunkoro District in Gwarinpa.
The Director of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, disclosed this on Monday during a citywide sanitation operation by the FCTA joint task force.
He explained that the exercise targeted illegal squatters and individuals of “questionable character” residing in the area, while indigenous homes were deliberately spared.
“Today’s exercise is along the proposed Ring Road 3 corridor at the intersection of N16 and RR3, where we have Mab Global Estate. You can see the shanties, squatters, and people of questionable character. As part of the citywide sanitation to enhance security, we are continuing the operation as planned,” Galadima said.
According to him, most of the demolished structures were temporary shelters made of wood and other non-durable materials. “So far, we’ve cleared more than 1,000 shanties, and we’re still progressing. The entire road stretch is about 2 kilometres, filled with similar illegal structures,” he added.
Galadima confirmed that the Department of Resettlement and Compensation was consulted to avoid disrupting indigenous communities, noting that representatives were invited to help identify genuine indigenous properties.
Also speaking, the FCTA Director of Security Services Development, Adamu Gwary, represented by Dr. Peter Olumuji, said the operation had brought relief to residents of nearby estates such as Mab Global, who had raised safety concerns.
“There is a clear nexus between development control and the security of lives and property. We observed that criminal elements often hide their shanties behind indigenous communities, using them as cover,” Gwary stated.
He noted that no arrests were made during the exercise but stressed that clean-up operations would continue. He also addressed the ongoing clampdown on vehicles with tinted windows, saying many permits in circulation were forged and linked to crime.
Despite an Inspector-General of Police directive postponing enforcement of the tinted glass ban to October 2025, Gwary defended the early crackdown, citing rising cases of “one-chance” robberies involving such vehicles.
“We’ve conducted clearance operations in the city centre, focusing on tinted glass vehicles due to consistent reports that they are being used for criminal activities,” he said.
NAN
