Demolition hits business outlets in Abuja

By Habeebat Ajayi, Ibrahim Yusuf, Ifeoluwa Omosebe & Miriam Ihezie

Some business outlets, including the popular Pizza outlet and several phone accessories shops, were yesterday demolished in Area 11, Garki District, Abuja.

Abuja Metro gathered that the demolition followed the alleged acquisition of the property by a new owner.

The exercise began at about 10 a.m. on Tuesday, with heavy-duty equipment deployed to the site to pull down the structures.

As of the time our reporters visited the area at about 1:30 p.m., the demolition was still ongoing, while the identity of the new owner had yet to be confirmed.

Workers and business owners were seen hurriedly removing furniture, phone accessories, equipment and other valuables before the structures were demolished.

Some of the affected occupants told our reporters that they had been served a six-month eviction notice by the new owner, adding that the notice expired several months ago.

Meanwhile, employees of Pizza outlet, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the demolition as a difficult development, expressing concern over the uncertainty surrounding their jobs.

They said the exercise came as a surprise to many workers, with some fearing they could join the growing ranks of unemployed Nigerians.

Other staff members disclosed that the branch employs more than 20 workers and expressed hope that the company would redeploy them to other outlets across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Efforts to obtain comments from the management of Pizza outlet and other affected businesses were unsuccessful, as their officials declined to speak.

Abuja Metro was also unable to get a reaction from the property’s new owner, who is reportedly carrying out the demolition.

The spokesperson for the Federal Capital Development Control Department (FCDCD) told Abuja Metro that the agency was not responsible for the demolition exercise.

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