The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it will provide a temporary accommodation for over 150 children orphans who were left homeless following an earlier demolition exercise in Kubwa satellite town of Abuja on Tuesday.
The Director, FCTA Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, stated this during a joint press briefing with the owner of the affected property on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that the administration was more concerned about the welfare of the children, hence the need to provide the accommodation.
“In the beginning, we had sympathy and a kind heart for the children and we are looking for a way forward for the children, on how to cushion their hardships by relocating them so that they do not feel that they are rejected by the society.
“That is why the most important thing at this moment is the welfare of those children, which we are working seriously on.
“We want to provide succour for them, by getting them a temporary accommodation, even if it is for one year, so that our children will have a safe place to stay.
“This is because this government has a human face. We hope to do that as soon as possible,’’ he assured.
The director said demolition of Divine Wounds of Jesus Christ Orphanage and Rehabilitation Home, Kubwa, was because the property failed to comply with development control requirements in the nation’s capital.
He alleged that the owner disregarded “Several Stop’’ work and other notices served on the property, including a demand for the title document of the plot.
“When we received this complaint of encroachment, we visited the site and served all the relevant notices beginning from “Stop Work’’ notice, quit notice, to demolition notice.
“This is in line with our responsibility of ensuring strict implementation of the Abuja Master Plan.
“The owner did not submit any title document about the disputed property. If she had submitted, we would have put her title document together with that of the complainant.
“We will then send it to the department of lands administration to confirm who the rightful owner of the land was or is, because there are three plots she is sitting on.
“The issuing authority would now write us formally confirming the real owner of the land,’’ he said.
Galadima asked the owner to submit documents to his office for onward submission to Lands Department and the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) to determine the authentic owner of the plot.
However, owner of the orphanage, Bishop Victoria Ezemoka at the joint press briefing produced another title document for the same property.
She denied claim by the department that she failed to produce the documents after several notices and demands.
According to her, trouble over ownership of the disputed property started immediately after the death of her husband.
She also claimed that her brother-in-law wanted to take over the property.
She insisted that since the case was still in court, there was no need for further action by any of the parties involved, including the development.
In its response, the department said there was already a court judgement with documented evidences indicating that the case had been struck out due to absence of all parties. (NAN)
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an orphanage located Opposite NSITF, Arab Road Kubwa; was demolished by the department on Tuesday March 23, a development which has generated widespread criticism.
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