There are many problems associated with living in satellite towns in Abuja. From poor transport system to inadequate security to bad road and lack of social amenities such as healthcare and power. However, when the government decides to initiate developmental projects such as road construction, it is expected to spark joyous celebration among the residents. But in most satellite towns in Abuja where the government has started developing, the residents are apprehensive that the bulldozers will soon start rolling. Michael Oche and Augustine Aminu write.
esidents of Dutse Alhaji, a satellite town located along the Kubwa expressway in Bwari area council now live in palpable fear. Of course, if you live in any of the satellite towns in Abuja, there are many reasons to always be in fear. For instance, there is fear of insecurity and the traffic gridlock experienced almost on a daily basis.
Residents of the once quiet town now live in fear from being sacked by the FCT authority. Most of the residents claimed they have not forgotten so soon the demolition exercise that engulfed the city during the tenure of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and his successors.
Fear recently gripped residents of Dutse Alhaji over rumours that the Development Control Unit of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Agency (AMMA) plans to demolish illegal structures in the area. Tens of hundreds of residents in the area were seen discussion the impending demolition exercise in groups but AMMA said they were yet to make any plan to demolish the place.
House demolition in Abuja is not a new thing to residents who witnessed it regularly during the administration of Nasir el-Rufai.
El-Rufai won the praise and hatred of many for his campaign, which he said was to protect the city’s master plan. At the time, it was common for families to lose their homes and other property without being compensated. The practice was temporarily stopped when Aliyu Modibbo took over the running of the nation’s capital.
With a fast growing population, and the usual problem of securing lands in the federal capital, people usually covet unused government-owned lands and erect structures either for residential or business purposes.
Officials of the city’s Department of Development Control said people have been warned against using government lands. Demolition exercise has become a common sight once again with Mr. Modibbo’s exit as Minister and the advent of Adamu Aliero, former governor of Kebbi State.
Under Aliero, the demolition exercise focused on illegal structures at the outskirts of Kubwa, Zuba, Bwari, Kuje, Abaji, Gwagwalada and Karu-Nyanya-Jikoyi axis of Abuja.
The Department of Development Control said it would continue the removal of illegal structures and shanties in the Area Councils to open up the areas for infrastructure improvement and gradual urban renewal.
Some residents have started making plans on how to relocate to other towns such as Suleja in Niger State and Masaka in Nasarawa State.
As new ministers and senators are getting set to resume work in Nigeria’s federal capital city, residents have continued to express fears over impending demolition of their houses.
According to some residents who spoke to our reporters, their fear is justified by infrastructural improvement in some of these satellite towns that have been hitherto forgotten. For instance, in Dutse Alhaji, there is intensive road construction going on while electrification of Kuje Area Council is receiving government attention at the pace residents claim is unprecedented. The residents say the speed at which the construction is being carried out has forced them to suspect the FCTA authority is up to something.
Some also claim the price of land has increased in the last couple of months, making it strictly a reserve for the powerful and mighty.
Though according to information obtained from the website of the department of satellite towns, infrastructure projects currently receiving attention include road and power supply.
The statement reads, "The Department of Satellite Towns Infrastructure (DSTI) is currently undertaking several projects which are at various stages of completion. The projects include:-District Infrastructure Projects; Regional (Link) Road Projects; - Rural Road Projects; Rural Electrification Projects
District Infrastructure Projects
District infrastructure are being provided for the satellite towns of Kubwa (Districts 4 & 5), Bwari (Districts 1 & 2) and Karshi (Districts 1 & 2).
• Kubwa Satellite Town (Districts 4 & 5) Infrastructure Project
The scope of works consists of construction of various classes of roads which include Collector Roads, Important Local Streets (ILS), Local Streets (LS) and Minor Access Roads (MAR). There is also the provision of water supply network, storm water drainage system, sewage system, electric power supply and distribution, street lighting and telecommunication ducting. Rehabilitation of some roads within Kubwa old town also forms part of the scope. The overall percentage completion of the project is about 10%
• Bwari Satellite Town (Districts 1 & 2) Infrastructure Project
The scope of works here also involves construction of various categories of roads which include Arterial Roads, Collector Roads, Important Local Streets (ILS), Local Streets (LS) and Minor Access Roads (MAR). The scope also includes provision of water supply network, storm water drainage system and electric power supply and distribution. The overall percentage completion of the project is about 23%
• Karshi Satellite Town (Districts 1 & 2) Infrastructure Project
The Scope of works consists of construction of various classes of roads which include Arterial Roads, Collector Roads, Important Local Streets (ILS), Local Streets (LS), Minor Access Roads (MAR). The scope also includes provision of water supply distribution network, storm water drainage system sewerage system, electric power supply and distribution, street lighting and telecommunication ducting. The overall percentage completion of the project is about 9%
Regional (link) Road Projects.
The Regional (Link) Road projects are the construction of roads that link the satellite towns to each other or to the city. Such a road project is the dualization of 20km Jikwoyi-Karshi road. The overall percentage completion of the road is about 54%
• A2-Kwaita – Yebu Road (Kwali Area Council)
This is a 25km road that starts at A2 (i.e Kaduna-Lokoja road) at Kwaita and ends at Yebu. The standard of the road is bituminous surface dressing. The overall percentage completion is about 81%.
• Bwari-Kau Bridge/Road (Bwari Area Council)
This project is essentially the construction of 45m long bridge with 625m approach road to provide a non-seasonal access to Kau. The project is about 90% completed.
• Provision of access road to the orphanage home at Gwagwalada.
The project is the construction of a bituminous surface dressed access road to the Orphanage Home at Gwako in Gwagwalada Area Council. The project is about 2% completed.
Rural Electrification Projects
Rural electrification projects are being carried out at some villages in the FCT to enhance the socio-economic wellbeing of the people. The projects include:-
• Electrification of Gaube village, Kuje Area Council - 85% Completed
• Electrification of Gafere village, Kuje Area Council - 85% Completed
• Electrification Pasali Village, Kuje Area Council - 85% Completed
• Electrification Tunga-Bawa Village, Kuje Area Council -17% Completed
• Electrification of Kuchiako Village, Kuje Area Council – 95% Completed.
New Projects
• Rehabilitation of Kuje-Gwagwalada road.
The contract for this road project has recently been awarded and the process of signing the agreement is in progress.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, the Public Relations Officer of the Resettlement and Compensation Department of the FCDA said he was not aware of any plan to demolish Dutse Alhaji. He said the FCT administration does not demolish for the fun of it.
But he, however, frowned at the rate people are returning to places that had initially been demolished; stating that they would have themselves to blame. He said, "People believe government is slow. Those people coming back are doing that at their own peril. We have already taken a census of the people we will cater for. There will be no compensation for those coming back. We are working up a strategy for relocation of the original inhabitants. We have already earmarked a place in Anagada in Gwagwalada Area Council. The entire Jiwa chiefdom is moving to Anagada once fund s are made available. We can’t be sure of date but our basic constraint is funding."
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