The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) says it is not responsible for the planned demolition of houses in the Zhidu community near Lugbe phase 11 of Abuja.
This is according to a Thursday statement from the FHA management which dispelled rumours that the agency is planning to demolish about 1,500 houses in the said community.
“The Authority wants to use this medium to put the records straight, and correct the wrong impression created by some Land grabbers, who have consistently misled some innocent Nigerians by extorting money from them through the sale of government land,” the statement read partly.
“Federal Housing Authority acquired a parcel of land from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for housing development and went on to carry out enumeration exercise and subsequently paid compensation to the farmers.
In the course of carrying out pre-development exercises, it was discovered that some squatters have encroached on some portion of the land belonging to the Authority. To complicate the matter, the illegal development happens to be at the right of way of Ring Road Three which services the entire area.
“Consequently, the Authority and FCDA, (about eight months ago) embarked on the identification of all the developments that fell within FHA’S land and the Ring Road Three (for removal) to pave the way for the development of the land. The Authority went on to call on all persons laying genuine claims to the land to come forward with proof of ownership and approval to build, for documentation.
“It is therefore surprising that some persons would come up with outlandish claims that the Federal Housing Authority is planning to demolish the entire Zhidu community, giving them only two weeks’ notice.
“The Authority would not be distracted or deterred by the ambush tactics of the acclaimed leaders of the community, who are whipping up unnecessary public sentiments. FHA would never accommodate any slum development within any of its estates.
“We reiterate that persons with genuine claims to any portion of land in the said community that fell within FHA’s parcel of land should come forward with all relevant documents and approval to develop for documentation.”