By Okafor Joseph Afam, Business & Economy Reporter, SpringNewsNG Media Limited – April 2025

In a controversial push to enforce the Abuja Master Plan, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) demolished over 20,400 buildings across Nigeria’s capital in 2024. The mass demolition campaign has left countless families devastated, many now homeless, jobless, and struggling to survive.

From Tungamaje to Zuba, Lugbe, Iddo, and beyond, the impact of these bulldozers has been life-altering.

A Legacy Lost in Minutes

One of the affected residents, Idris, born in 1963, had his ancestral home in Tungamaje razed on March 25, 2024. The land, which had been in his family for generations, was reduced to rubble by a sudden military-led operation.

“They arrived around 5:30 p.m. and ordered us out,” Idris recalled. “There was no prior notice. We had barely any time to gather our things. The community helped us salvage what we could.”

Now, Idris—once a proud homeowner—lives in a cramped one-room apartment, while his wives and fourteen children are scattered across various towns.

Court Battles, Trauma, and Broken Promises

John, another victim, shared a similar story from Zuba. His house, where his wife and four children, including triplets, lived, was destroyed while he was away in Lagos.

“We had proper land documents,” he said. “We even went to court to fight the demolition. But hunger and legal costs forced us to give up.”

To make matters worse, John claims the land was sold to another developer shortly after the demolition. He now lives in a tight one-bedroom apartment, struggling to make ends meet.

Hostels Flattened, Dreams Destroyed

In Iddo, near the University of Abuja, a man who built hostels for students said his entire investment was wiped out overnight.

“They didn’t notify us. Everything we built over the years was gone in hours,” he said. Now, he drives a commercial van and rents a single room.

Traders Face Eviction in Zuba Market

Demolitions aren’t just targeting homes. Market traders in Zuba fruit market—who claim to have legally purchased their plots from the Gwagwalada Area Council—are also facing forced evictions.

“We paid all the necessary levies and have legal documentation,” said one landlord association leader. “Even with a court order preserving the status quo until March 2025, we’re still under threat.”

This isn’t the first time Zuba traders have faced demolition. Between 2016 and 2018, parts of the market were destroyed without warning.

Legal Voices Call for Justice

According to Nigeria’s Land Use Act, government authorities can reclaim land for public interest. However, compensation is mandatory under the law.

Legal expert Awosusi Kehinde emphasized that ancestral lands also fall under this protection.

“Even if residents lack formal deeds, historical ownership is valid,” he said. “The law mandates compensation, and if the land is no longer used for public interest, it should revert to its original owners.”

Abuja’s Urban Growth: At What Cost?

Abuja was designed to represent Nigeria’s unity and progress. But as the city expands, the human cost of development is becoming impossible to ignore.

In 2021, the Public Complaints Commission urged the FCTA to halt demolitions due to rising concerns and protests from displaced residents. Despite these warnings, the demolitions have only intensified.

The voices of Idris, John, and countless others paint a troubling picture of displacement and injustice—stories of people whose lives have been upended in the name of urban order.

As bulldozers continue to clear communities, many ask: Is development worth the cost of destroying lives and heritage?