FCTA Raises Alarm Over Indiscriminate Borehole Drilling In Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has lamented the increasing rate at which boreholes are being drilled indiscriminately in the territory. 

This is as the administration also vowed to prosecute an Abuja landlord for allegedly drilling over 200 meters borehole on pedestrian walkway in front of an estate in Guzape District. 

The Director, Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima who led officials to monitor developments in Guzape on Wednesday, said five workers found working on the site have been arrested. 

He warned developers and landlords against destroying public properties, adding that the FCT Administration would not hesitate to use relevant laws to prosecute violators. 

“We woke up with someone drilling a borehole on our road.

"They drilled the borehole on our pedestrian walkway, in fact, my heart is pained.

“This is serious damage to the environment. Definitely, we are going to prosecute him.

"That is why we are liaising with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and other relevant agencies to prosecute the offenders.

"This is damaging public property. This is vandalisation."

Warning other developers, the Development Control boss said: “This is an opportunity for me to warn other developers that we will not accept this from any developer.

“We will resist any attempt by any developer to use pedestrian walkway to drill a borehole.

"You have your property and you must obtain approval before you can drill a borehole wherever it is going to be.

He added: “It was a concerned citizen that drew our attention to this.

"We will not allow this. We will continue monitoring developments in Abuja, even during weekends."