The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Department of Monitoring and Inspection has decried the number of abandoned buildings within the city centre.
Director of the department, Mr Olawale Labiyi, represented by Mr Obinna Nkwocha of City Monitoring Division, made this observation during a site inspection on Wednesday in Abuja.
Labiyi said abandoned buildings were a security risk to the public as they could serve as hideouts for hoodlums and criminal elements.
He called on residents of the territory to be vigilant always and report any suspicious movements around any abandoned building in their neighbourhood.
Labiyi urged developers to ensure no site or building is left unoccupied.
He also advised them to make proper search before developing their plots, to avoid litigation and illegal development that could lead to such buildings being abandoned.
The director urged developers to make proper costing and estimation of buildings before commencement to avoid abandoning the building halfway.
Labiyi commended the FCTA Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) for delivering effective services, especially during the recent holiday period.
He noted that the department of monitoring and inspection was saddled with the responsibility of ensuring SDAs deliver effective and efficient services to the public.
