By Kamil Opeyemi
Residents of Trademore Estate in Abuja on Monday shut its gates in protest against the planned demolition of structures in the estate by officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
This comes days after the estate was declared a disaster zone, in light of flash floods which submerged houses and vehicles in the estate about a week ago, a recurring situation at the peak of the rainy season annually.
It would be recalled that a shower of rain which started around 9 am on June 23 resulted in a flash flood and traffic jam as residents were trapped in their houses.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said more than 116 houses were submerged at the estate following a heavy downpour.
The permanent secretary of the FCTA, Olusade Adesola, declared the Trademore area a disaster zone that “needs immediate action to remedy further damages and loss of lives and properties”.
According to FCTA buildings on the waterways in the estate and other areas will be demolished.
Although no life was lost, the Chairman of the residents association, Mr Adewale Adenaike, said the association was worried that the flash floods had become an annual occurrence within the estate.
The residents are demanding that the government improve the waterways in order to tackle the persistent flooding in the area, instead of demolishing buildings.
Details later…..