The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he will meet with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, following the demolition of illegal duplexes built under a high-tension power line at Apo Dutse District, Abuja, supposedly belonging to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
A statement from Wike’s media aide Lere Olayinka said that Wike disclosed this during an on-the-spot assessment of the demolished structures on Friday.
According to him, the Minister said the buildings were erected despite repeated warnings and the denial of development approval by the FCT Department of Development Control.
Staff of FCT Department of Development Control had on Thursday demolished not fewer than eleven units of flats, comprising three and four bedrooms in Apo-Dutse area of the nation’s capital, Abuja, which led to the arrest of the Department’s staff by Police.
“Well, it’s unfortunate. Yesterday, I got a call from Development Control that they had to come here to stop some buildings from going on,” Wike said.
“You can see the high-tension line, and that is dangerous. The land was given to the Nigerian Police, and they applied for approval, but Development Control refused because of the high-tension risk.
“They refused to stop, and Development Control had to act. Unfortunately, our officers were arrested by the Nigerian Police, and that’s why I have to take this matter up with the IGP. I’m sure he may not be aware, but we cannot allow this.
“The government cannot allow anyone to break the rules. Look at the high-tension line. How would anybody take such a risk? Even if there was no high-tension line, once you are denied approval, you cannot go ahead as if you are above the law.”
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