Abuja Computer Village Traders Protest Threat Of Ejection

Traders at the Wuse Zone 3 Abuja computer village have protested against threats of ejection and what they term “illegal construction and fraudulent price hike by the Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL).”

The shop owners, who claim ownership of their individual shops, said AICL is trying to demolish the structure and replace it with twin three story building structures that would be resold to them at exorbitant rates of N1.2 million per square meter in 30 square meter shops.

They said the developer of the structure has so far defied court injunctions and began digging in the middle of the night when shop owners retire for the day. They also accuse them of plans to construct structures on the parking lot and sewage system of the complex.

Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman of the complex, Engineer Gbenga Odubayo, said they have been threatened to pay N36 million within six months for the shops when completed or face ejection.

He said: “The building has been here since 1990 and we have been here for over 30 years doing our business. AICL came around and informed us that they want to pull down this building and build about three story buildings and about four other buildings at the back, including on the sewage. If you look around, we have problem with parking space because of the crowd that is attracted to the complex, (therefore) building an additional building will create traffic lock jam.

“Secondly, building on the sewage is very dangerous for us here. If they create more buildings, we might lose our customers if they don’t find where to park to patronise us. We have been asking them to show us that they have the authorisation to build here and we have not seen anything that shows the structures have been approved. Instead they are trying to invade the place in the middle of the night from 12-3am. We have a case in court and they have been duly served and the court gave an injunction that they should not enter this place.

“They said if they finish the proposed building, a square meter will be N1.2 million minimum and we are to pay within six months. The minimum square meter for the shops will be 30 square meters; if you look at it, that is about N36 million already and the square meters of most shops here right now is 10, 20, 50 and 100, depending on the size….”

When contacted by newsmen, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer AICL Abubakar Pai, said the matter is in court and he cannot comment because he has to get in touch with officers in charge of the project to understand the situation.