The Federal Capital Territory Administration on Wednesday demolished about 2,000 illegal structures in Mpape community.

The Chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Ikharo Attah, said the demolition was meant to sanitise the area.

He added that residents and landlords had appealed to the minister for the demolition, stating that the illegal structures by the roadside were obstructing the free movement of human and vehicles in the area.

He said, “Mpape demolition is requested by the residents and landlords who came to FCTA, requesting the minister, Muhammad Bello, clear the road corridors.

“The sanitation and demolition are long overdue and are targeted at roadside shanties and other unapproved buildings causing obstruction along the road.

“We gave them enough notice, but many of them were basking in the euphoria that nobody can clear Mpape.

“One of the residents that has lived in Mpape for over 20 years has confessed that people can now breathe in fresh road, because of the widened road.”

Also speaking, Peter Olumuji, from the Department of Security Services, said that many of the shanties and the illegal structures demolished were occupied by criminals.