Kubwa market fire: FCTA begins demolition of illegal structures

In the wake of the recent fire outbreak that claimed nine lives in Kubwa Village Market, Bwari Area Council of Abuja, officials of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration have concluded plans to commence demolition of structures causing obstructions in the area.

The FCTA, yesterday, issued a 24-hour vacation ultimatum to traders and owners of shops and others encroaching on the major corridors and undesignated places around the market and National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Kubwa.

The Acting Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Kaka Ali said all structures that fall within the non-regulated areas for trading will be demolished by the FCT Department of Development Control.

Director, Development Control Department, Garba Kwamkur, explained that they have a matching order from the FCT Minister, in view of the ugly incident that happened three days back.

Chairman FCT Ministerial Task team on City Sanitation, Comrade Ikharo Attah, disclosed that there are old abatement notices served by relevant agencies on most of the affected structures.

Also yesterday, the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) disclosed that it will not rest until it clamped down on all illegal DPK (kerosene) operators in the midstream and downstream sector of the oil industry.

The Zonal Operations Controller, NMDPRA, Abuja, Mrs Roselyn Wilkie disclosed this in a chat with reporters yesterday while reacting to the fire incident from a kerosene explosion in Kubwa, Abuja.

Wilkie explained that the agency’s Preliminary Accident Investigation Report on the kerosene tank explosion had revealed that it was a result of an electronic spark from a nearby transformer.

Based on its investigation, nine people died and 12 people sustained serious injuries.