Saturday, October 18, 2025 - The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has said he will meet with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the demolition of illegal duplexes built under a high-tension power line at Apo Dutse District, Abuja, allegedly belonging to the Nigeria Police Force.
Wike, who disclosed this during an on-the-spot assessment of
the demolished structures on Friday, said the buildings were erected despite
repeated warnings and the denial of development approval by the FCT Department
of Development Control.
It will be recalled that staff of the FCT Department of
Development Control had on Thursday demolished no fewer than eleven units of
flats, comprising three- and four-bedroom apartments, in the Apo Dutse area of
the nation’s capital, which led to the arrest of the department’s staff by the
police.
Wike said: “Well, it’s unfortunate. Yesterday, I got a call
from Development Control that they had to come here to stop some buildings from
going on. You can see the high-tension line, and that is dangerous.
“The land was given to the Nigerian Police, and they applied
for approval, but Development Control refused because of the high-tension risk.
“They refused to stop, and Development Control had to act.
Unfortunately, our officers were arrested by the Nigerian Police, and that’s
why I have to take this matter up with the IGP. I’m sure he may not be aware,
but we cannot allow this.
“The government cannot allow anyone to break the rules. Look
at the high-tension line. How would anybody take such a risk? Even if there was
no high-tension line, once you are denied approval, you cannot go ahead as if
you are above the law.”
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