The management of the Federal Housing Authority has directed the suspension of all construction activities, including the structural development and building of any property in its estates in Gwarinpa, Apo/Guzape, Abuja.
It also directed a review of all building approvals in the estate to ensure conformity with development control standards and ascertain genuine approvals.
A statement by the Head of Public Affairs, FHA, Kenneth Chigelu, announced the suspension on Saturday in Abuja.
The FHA said the directive followed management’s discovery of deliberate deviations from approved building plans in the estates and flagrant disobedience of Development Control directives by the Authority.
It explained that some residential buildings have been converted into commercial use in the estate without approval, thereby causing a nuisance.
While some allottees have overbuilt their plots and illegally annexed government land.
The statement read, “The management of Federal Housing Authority hereby announces the suspension of all developments in its estates in Gwarinpa and Apo/ Guzape, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. This includes all construction, structural, and building developments.
“This follows management’s discovery of deliberate deviations from approved building plans in the estate and flagrant disobedience of Development Control directives by the Authority.
“While the management of FHA is working to restore the glory of all its estates in the country, it would not fold its hands to see the decay of such a national monument like Gwarinpa estate as a result of willful distortion of the master plan.”
It added, “It is common knowledge that a lot of residential properties have been turned into commercial purposes in the estate without approval, thereby causing a nuisance to residents, while some allottees have overbuilt their plots and illegally annexed government land.
“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.
“Consequently, all developments in the estate are hereby suspended until management concludes the review of all development plans. Noncompliance with this directive would be met with stiff penalties.”