The Federal Housing Authority has ordered an immediate halt to all construction and structural developments in its estates in Gwarinpa and Apo/Guzape areas of Abuja.
This directive includes a suspension of building activities to address issues of non-compliance with approved plans and unauthorized modifications.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by Kenneth Chigelu, the Head of Public Affairs at the FHA, the decision comes after the discovery of widespread deviations from the original master plan and violations of development control regulations.
“Management has uncovered deliberate distortions of approved building plans and blatant disregard for directives from the Development Control department,” Chigelu said.
The statement further highlighted that many residential buildings in the estates had been illegally converted to commercial use, creating disturbances for other residents.
Additionally, some property owners were found to have exceeded their plot limits or annexed public land without authorization.
“To restore order and sanity, management has decided to review all building approvals in the estate to ensure conformity with Development Control standards and to ascertain genuine approvals,” the FHA spokesperson explained.
The authority emphasized that its objective is to safeguard the estates’ original purpose and prevent their deterioration.
“We will not stand by and watch national monuments like Gwarinpa estate lose their value due to unauthorized changes and overbuilding,” Chigelu added.
All construction activities in the affected areas will remain suspended while the FHA conducts a thorough review of development plans. Property owners and developers found to be in breach of regulations face “stiff penalties,” according to the statement.
The FHA has called on all stakeholders to cooperate with the directive, warning that non-compliance would not be tolerated.
