By Abubakar Sani

A Deputy Director in the FCT Department of Development Control, Mr Hamza Madaki Tayyus has attrributed the erection of illegal structures by most residents of the Federal Capital Territory[FCT]to indiscipline.

Tayyus who made this known recently in Abuja at an interactive session with newsmen, said "even in underdeveloped countries like neighbouring Niger Republic, people cannot contemplate erecting illegal structures because the government will not condone it".

He said: "Indiscipline among FCT residents results in illegal erection of structures and that is why government has been pulling them down knowing very well that some of them were erected without proper permit from us".

According to him, the department will not allow the FCT Master plan to be distorted by some people, noting that "under the law, before a structure is erected, one has to get a building plan approval that ensures one follows due process".

"Government gives approval that meets the building requirement depending on the case but averagely six months is slated for a prospective house owner to develop it after which it will be revoked when the six months elapses."

He said it was not true that the department pulls down structures with impunity, saying recent exercises that resulted in the demolition of some structures at Gbosa and Toge villages were conducted with the consent of the affected people.