The Federal Capital Territory Administration has said the ongoing demolition of illegal structures in Kuje area council is a quick response to identified threats to national security, peace and order.
Officials of the FCTA disclosed this when they appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on FCT Area Council and Auxiliary Matters.
Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Umar Shaibu, while responding to a petition by victims of the demolition, insisted that all extant laws were adhered to while the critical stakeholders were also engaged at different times to ensure that human rights were not bridged.
Also responding, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah, said before the exercise, the administration was worried about the security breaches that had taken place in Kuje.
Attah added that the certain people disregarded warnings and illegally converted reserved railway corridors and public abattoir site to residential homes.
In his response, the Director of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, explained that Area Councils had since lost the right to allocate lands in FCT after the reforms that were introduced in 2005.
He added that local chiefs also do not have the legal right to transfer any valid title to anyone.
The representative of Kuje area council chairman, Ishaku Habila, who is also the chief surveyor of the council, confirmed that the area council had followed the illegal developments, especially at the railway corridors with concern.
He further added that notices were served at illegal occupants, while some of the buildings were removed, but the land was illegally acquired by others.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Yusuf Tijjani, assured that justice would be done to both government and the victims of the demolition.
He also endorsed the motion raised by members of the committee who questioned the integrity of documents submitted by the victims and claimants.
Meanwhile, counsel to the victims, Victor Onyekachi, urged the committee to compel the minister to do things right by first revoking the land, halt further demolition in the area and also enumerate the houses that were demolished and compensate the victims.