•How Abuja landlords, monarchs work against development
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, tremble whenever the word demolition is mentioned. Or, they sight motorcade of tractors and phalanx of security personnel milling around the city. In fact, the threat of Nyesom Wike, FCT minister, to bring down unapproved or illegal structures heightened the anxiety.
While some have come to terms with the rebranding of the seat of power, others are taking precautionary measures to avert it, especially those who live in suburbs and whose houses sit on questionable pieces of land. Daily Sun observed that dwellers of these areas seldom protest against government negligence. In communities like Kobi, a suburb in Asokoro Extension, Dogon gada in Lokogoma, Kabusa, Apo Extension, Durumi, Mpape and Gishiri, landlords, land owners, business owners and even traditional rulers are taking extra caution to ensure that bulldozers do not come near their vicinities.
Major parts of these communities are best described as rural areas in the FCT. The roads are bad, no functional government healthcare centres or police stations. Residents source for water by themselves. Proposed interventions by politicians, religious-based organizations, construction companies, good-spirited individuals, to better the living condition of dwellers, have fallen flat.
The crème de la crème of these areas claim that a brush up of their communities through the provision of streets lights, construction of roads, schools and hospitals, would attract the attention of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), who will begin demolition. For them, a deplorable living condition would automatically ward off the preying eyes of the FCDA, estate developers and politicians with deep pockets, against buying their houses and land.
As a safety measure, community heads through the cooperation of residents set up security watch otherwise known as vigilantes who man strategic positions mostly at nights to safeguard their areas. Each compound is billed N500 to N1000 monthly to aid the work of the galant-ready personnel.
Some original inhabitants of the FCT are the “lords and saviours” of the suburbs. They determine what goes out and what comes in. They prefer you convert developmental initiative to lucre. They reluctantly permit the grading of their roads only when it becomes unpassable or raise the alarm when they have recorded scores of criminality.
Emeke Jude (not real name), was forced to shut his sachet water factory in Lokogoma: “It was difficult persuading the community leaders that my business would not pose any threat. These people kept on disturbing me to close shop. They said I was trying to destroy their houses. Day in day out, this is what I got. The patronage around the area was not even encouraging. I had to yield to their demands. It has not been easy.
“During the rainy season, everywhere will be oozing out bad odour from the gutters and pit toilets. The only linking bridge is on the verge of collapse. Every year people die because the flood would cover the bridge. Those who do not know get drown. We have had interventions but most house owners rejected it.
“The dry season is even terrible; everywhere will be dusty. You see children coughing and having running noses because of dust. They prefer to wallow in an inhabitable environment for the fear of demolition. The high cost of rent would not allow some of us to relocate.”
Yakuna Shegiza, a landlord, vowed to do everything to protect his property: “I am an FCT indigene. I have seen it all. There is nowhere development has taken place in this town without people being sacked from their houses. Demolition is no respecter of person. We need to jealously protect our property. Even if it means living in what you called terrible condition, we prefer it than to be tenants elsewhere without peace of mind.
“If you come to Durumi, as an investor, you are expected to respect our bylaws. We do not want trouble. You are not expected to do anything that would attract the attention of government negatively. One thing that encourages government to demolition is a place when there is criminality or cultism. We do not want that. Live modestly.”
A house owner in Kobi, Abdullahi Saidu, was indifferent in his remarks: “Here in Kobi, I have heard this story on how community leaders are preventing development. “The truth is that whether we like it or not, an undeveloped place will be refurbished in due time. So, the idea of people stopping the construction of roads of public facility is uncharitable.
“Government cannot demolish every where except it is trying to be insensitive. Development is about people. The fuss about FCT Master plan should die down. The population is growing and the structure of the FCT should be designed to accommodate the masses.:
Blessing Franklin, a resident of Kabusa: “Even as a tenant, I am scared for landlords. Yes, most of them are rejecting development projects which is affecting some of us, but I understand with them. The rate of demolition is rampant. Nobody wants to risk it.
“A well-to-do man wanted to expand the road leading to my compound to build a massive hotel behind, the people rejected it. He promised to provide his own electricity and install street lights, and build two boreholes they rejected it. They love the way they are.
“The case is still there. It is a serious matter. That is why you see that the only businesses booming are welding jobs, the popular Kabusa market, motorcycle repairs, hairdressing and tailoring. Nothing huge. They do not want things that would get the attention of government.”