The Games Village Residents Association (GVRAA) in Abuja has accused the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) of arbitrarily demolishing its secretariat located within the estate’s premises. Officials from the Development Control of the FCTA, accompanied by armed security personnel, reportedly forced entry into the estate and proceeded to pull down the estate’s office and a nearby mechanic’s workshop. The officials even demolished a perimeter fence to gain access to the estate.
President of the GVRAA, Alhaji Bukola Musiliu Adisa, stated that the officials stormed the vicinity around 10 am on Thursday and destroyed the secretariat, claiming that the structure has legal backing. According to Adisa, the secretariat was built by the federal government and was allocated to them through a Federal Executive Council (FEC) resolution in 2003. The association, established by the FEC resolution, was tasked with managing the facilities left behind and ensuring the security and welfare of the residents.
Adisa expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of prior notice, stating, “They just invaded us and took us by surprise. Our staff were inside the office when it was demolished, though no life was lost.”
However, the FCTA countered the claim, insisting that the management of Games Village was served several notices before carrying out the demolition. An assistant director at AMMC said, “There are correspondences to justify our action.” The FCTA asserted that the Games Village was built on plots in the Kaura District that were revoked by the federal government due to public interest. The estate was built by the Federal Ministry of Works, and plots not completely developed were intended for social amenities for residents.
The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council of the Federal Capital Administration clarified the demolition, stating that the plot was allotted to the AMMC in 2012 for the construction of its Senior Staff Housing Estate. The AMMC Director of Admin and Finance, Naziru Isa, explained that the demolition concluded efforts to reclaim the plot after illegal settlers obstructed initial construction efforts. The AMMC had previously issued quit notices and acquired all necessary documents, including Right of Occupancy (RO) and receipts from the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS).
