UTC Complex, Abuja, Pulled Down!

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in the early hours of yesterday, Sunday, pulled down the over 30-year-old popular UTC complex at Area 10, Garki, Abuja - FCT.

The administration of the FCT had earlier said that the old complex was overdue for a restructuring, it needed to be demolished and rebuilt. 

The FCTA said this was in a bid to create a structure that will grow small and medium enterprises thereby making the shopping mall, suitable for global business needs and challenges.

A deputy director, monitoring and inspection in the Department of Development Control, Hassan Ogbole, said the structures were defective and there was the need to upgrade them to the level that would meet global business standards.

Ogbole noted that the occupants of the building were given notices to enable them move out and allow the construction to commence, but many of them did not pay attention.

He also said:

“The place is in a state of disrepair and no longer habitable for business activities. The place has to give way for new development."

He also said that provision had been made for the traders and other occupants of the complex to enable reconstruction of the place.

The secretary, Command and Control, FCTA Department of Security, Peter Olumiji, said demolishing the complex was also needed to curtain the security challenges in the area.

Olumiji noted that apart from restructuring the place to meet global standards, there was the need to curtail the criminal activities prevalent in the place.