Jabi Motor Park in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished structures on Plot 82, Sector B16, around Jabi Motor Park in Abuja, to reclaim the land for a planned development under an approved building plan. The exercise has disrupted businesses operating in the area, with affected traders and transport operators appealing to the administration to provide an alternative location where they can continue their activities.
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The FCTA Development Control Department carried out the demolition, maintaining that the operation was necessary to enforce approved land use, address unauthorised occupation and improve security around the area.
The exercise has brought renewed attention to the challenges surrounding land-use enforcement in Abuja, particularly the impact of redevelopment and planning regulations on informal businesses that depend on public spaces and adjoining properties for their livelihoods.
FCTA Explains Why It Demolished Structures Around Jabi Motor Park
A Sector Monitor with the FCTA Development Control Department, Rilwan Tsoho Dangora, said the operation targeted Plot 82, Sector B16, which the administration said occupants of Jabi Motor Park had encroached upon.
Dangora explained that Jabi Motor Park occupies Plot 187, designated under the approved land-use plan for an international motor and bus terminal. However, shops had taken up a significant portion of the property.
He said construction activities within the motor park had forced some commercial transport operators, including bus and taxi drivers, to move to the adjoining Plot 82. The operators subsequently began using the neighbouring property as a motor park.
The official stressed that Plot 82 and Plot 187 are separate parcels with different approved uses. He also rejected claims that the demolished structures stood within the original Jabi Motor Park.
According to Dangora, the owners of Plot 82 had obtained approval for a multifunctional development and were ready to begin construction. The administration therefore considered the removal of the existing structures and occupants necessary to allow the project to proceed.
FCTA Says Occupants Received Demolition Notices
The administration also defended the timing of the exercise, stating that it had engaged occupants before carrying out the demolition.
Dangora said the Development Control Department had been in discussions with those occupying the property since the previous year. He added that officials served a final demolition notice during the week preceding the operation.
The FCTA also deployed security personnel to monitor the exercise and prevent disturbances.
Dr Peter Olumuji, Secretary of the FCT Command and Control Centre, said security officials supervised the operation to maintain public order and prevent violence.
He explained that neighbouring communities, including Utako, had repeatedly raised concerns about insecurity in the area. Clearing the structures, he said, would prevent criminal elements from using the location as a hideout.
The administration's position reflects its broader effort to enforce approved land use, remove unauthorised structures and address security concerns across the capital.
Jabi Traders Appeal for Alternative Trading Space
Despite the FCTA's explanation, affected traders and transport operators said the demolition had disrupted their businesses and left many uncertain about where to continue operating.
Christopher John, one of the traders, said several people depended on businesses around the motor park for their daily income and family support. He argued that the exercise had halted their activities without providing a clear alternative location.
John also said occupants needed sufficient time to relocate their goods and make arrangements before the demolition.
Garba Musa, a member of the Jabi Park union, criticised the communication surrounding the operation. He said the union leadership should have received adequate information early enough to notify members and prepare them for the exercise.
Musa added that some traders could not move their goods because they lacked alternative storage or trading locations. He appealed to the FCTA to consider providing temporary space for affected traders and transport operators.
Another occupant, Joseph Okoye, acknowledged that notices had been issued but said many traders remained unprepared for the timing and manner of the operation.
Their appeals highlight the economic difficulties that can follow enforcement exercises, particularly for small businesses that rely on daily trading activities and have limited capacity to relocate at short notice.
Land-Use Enforcement and the Challenge of Urban Redevelopment
The demolition illustrates the tension between enforcing urban planning regulations and protecting the livelihoods of people operating within established commercial areas.
For the FCTA, reclaiming Plot 82 would allow the approved development to proceed while addressing concerns about unauthorised occupation and security. Enforcing approved land use also remains important to maintaining the integrity of Abuja's development framework and preventing unplanned expansion.
However, the disruption to traders raises questions about how the administration can manage the economic consequences of land recovery, particularly where businesses and transport operators have operated in an area for an extended period.
Providing clear information, adequate notice and practical relocation arrangements can help reduce the disruption associated with such exercises. Alternative trading spaces could also help affected operators continue earning an income while allowing approved development to proceed.
The issue is relevant to Abuja's wider urban development because land-use enforcement does not operate independently of commercial activity, transport access and the livelihoods supported by informal businesses.
Balancing Approved Development with Livelihoods
The FCTA's action at Jabi Motor Park underscores the administration's determination to reclaim land for approved development and strengthen enforcement of planning regulations. However, affected traders are asking for a practical alternative that would allow them to resume business.
How the administration responds to those requests will shape the immediate impact of the demolition on local businesses and demonstrate how Abuja can balance development control, public safety and the economic interests of its residents.
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