An illegal structure with over one hundred rooms was recently demolished in Utako by the Development Control Department of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC)

Explaining the reason behind the demolition, the District Officer in charge of Utako district, Mal. Umar Bature, said it became expedient for the department to effect the removal, because the structure in contention was not part of what was approved for the developer by the department.

Mal. Bature said the main building that has approval should have been revalidated because the approval was granted in 1998.

According to Mal. Umar Bature "the approval granted to the on -going structure you see here has lapsed because according to the letter of conveyance given to a developer, it is expected that you completed your building in two years and failure to do so means that the developer will have to revalidate the earlier approval."

Also a place of worship was removed at Barumark Estate on Plot 566 which the department said was situated on a plot reserved for the estate as a playground.

Reacting to the removal, Yahaya Yusuf, Director, Development Control Department said the reason for calling for revalidation is not because of the revenue as some developers are insinuating, but to ascertain the stability and integrity of abandoned structures before the developer can be allowed to continue.

"An abandoned structure will need to be revalidated where it suddenly becomes below the road level in other to avoid flooding.

A developer's economic status might change and he decides to raise his structure to five storeys instead of a duplex that he initially got approval for," said the development control director. TpL Yahaya Yusuf explained that the action is in the interest of the public, adding that developers should adhere to the building plan approval given to them or be ready to revalidate it after the expiration of years given to them to complete the building.

In a related development, the Department has lifted the embargo placed on granting building plan approval to plot owners in Dawaki District of the Bwari Area Council.