Against the backdrop of criticism trailing the raid on night clubs and other places of social gathering in Abuja, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello, has assured residents that there is no plan to curtail nightlife in the federal capital.
He said the laws provide for nightlife in Abuja but such activities must stay within relevant laws.
Answering questions from State House correspondents on Thursday night in Abuja, he said the demolition of the popular Caramelo Night Club in the city followed exhaustive considerations of all the issues involved.
According to him, even though the Abuja master plan makes provisions for all activities including night clubs but it forbids the conversion of buildings from one purpose to another as in the case of the demolished night club.
ALSO READ: Yewa will not be marginalised during my tenure ― Dapo Abiodun
He recalled that Caramelo Night Club was converted from a clinic which it was approved for to a club against the provisions of the laws.
He said: “I’m quite interested also with the way I see the feedback from the wider community.
”I have had cause to discuss with many of your colleagues (journalists) where many people felt that this minister has not been demolishing.
”As a matter of fact` he is not demolishing so he is not working.’ it is due process, brother.
“If you check the record you will be surprised at how long it took to reach that painful decision of having to demolish that (Caramelo).
“As a matter of fact, all the regulations were there, that the property is no longer owned, it has been reverted to the government because it is very clear, check any C-of-O, you will see the conditions.
“If there is a flagrant abuse and there are no efforts to correct that abuse, it reverts back to the government.
“But I want you to be rest assured that for every demolition you see maybe a hundred were saved.
He urged Nigerians to ” go that extra mile and follow the law in developing properties in the city.”
The minister admonished property owners to familiarise themselves with the laws governing buildings in the FCT to avoid demolition.
Recall that the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority (FCDA) through its Department of Development Control (DDC) last Monday demolished the night club located TOS Benson, Utako District Abuja for an alleged building code violation.