FCT demolishes Okorocha’s uncompleted shopping centre

Posted by admin Abuja (FCT), Headlines, Imo, State News Sunday, October 16th, 2011

Tempers flared as the Development Control Department of the Federal Capital Territory Administration demolished an illegal drinking joint and restaurant built on a land owned by Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha at Port Harcourt Crescent, Area 11, Abuja, on Friday.

The plot, which had an uncompleted shopping mall, had been converted into a drinking joint and a restaurant. FCT authorities pulled in down in an effort to rid the city of illegal structures and shanties.

A man, who claimed to be Okorocha’s brother, said the building was built at huge cost.

Some employees of the drinking joints attacked one of the officials of the FCT Control Development Department.

The intervention of riot policemen and by-standers saved the official from further beatings as the aggrieved workers descended on him, pummelling and calling him names.

A woman who worked in the drinking joint sniffed tearfully as the bulldozer brought down the structure as her workers scrambled to remove the plastic chairs and other valuables inside the makeshift structure.

Two shanties inhabited by some girls who worked in the joints were also destroyed down during the exercise.

The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Municipal Council, Mr. Reuben Okoya, said the government would not allow shanties in the city, adding that all illegal structures would be demolished.

He said he was not aware that the plot belonged to Okorocha, noting that the governor would not be happy if he saw his property being taken over by shanties and illegal drinking joints.

Okoya said, “I am sure the governor would not permit his plot to be taken over by illegal structures where criminals and men of shady characters could hide to perpetrate illegal activities. Illegal structures are sprouting all over Abuja, but we wont allow them to stand; we will demolish them all.”

-Punchwp_posts