The demolition of Bassa community located close to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, has rendered thousands of people, including aviation workers homeless.
The FCT Development Control Department, on Tuesday, demolished all illegal structures during the exercise.
Some staff of IRS Airlines, car hire drivers and others were seen packing their belongings into vehicles, while others moved theirs into a primary school in the community.
Director, Development Control, FCT, Yahaya Yusuf, warned the residents against rebuilding the structures, adding that no development was permitted in the community without proper documentation and approvals.
Warning that the sale and construction of structures in the village were illegal, he said the government would not allow the proliferation of shanties close to the airport as it constitutes a security threat.
A worker with IRS, Abdulrazak Idris, whose building was demolished, explained that he was at work when he was informed that his house was being pulled down.
He expressed surprise at the demolition, adding that he paid N15,500 to the community elders on Monday when he was approached over the demolition issue.
“I don’t know why my building should be affected by the demolition because the community elders approached me on Monday, saying we should contribute money to forestall the demolition exercise and I paid N15, 500; I have a receipt to back up my claim,” Idris said in an agitated voice.
A car hire service operator, Ikechukwu Eze faulted the exercise, saying a number of buildings were exempted, insisting that the village was inhabited by low income airport workers that could not afford the exorbitant rent in other parts of the FCT.
He flayed the government for not providing alternative place of residence for the displayed residents, noting that the exercise would affect the aviation business at the airport.
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