Abuja, Nigeria — Residents of Trademore Estate in Abuja, Nigeria, shut down the estate on Monday to protest the planned demolition of structures in the area by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
The protest came after the FCDA declared Trademore a disaster zone following heavy flooding in June that left more than 100 homes submerged. The FCDA said the demolition was necessary to prevent future flooding.
However, residents of Trademore said they were not consulted about the decision to demolish their homes and businesses. They accused the FCDA of being insensitive to their plight and of not providing them with any alternative housing.
“We are not against development, but we want to be involved in the process,” said one resident, who declined to give his name. “We are not going to allow them to demolish our homes without our consent.”
The protest lasted for several hours and blocked traffic in the area. The FCDA has not yet commented on the protest.
The residents of Trademore Estate are calling on the FCDA to reconsider its decision to demolish their homes and businesses. They are also calling on the government to provide them with alternative housing.
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