Residents of Lugbe, a residential district in the Federal Capital Territory, have complained about the poor living conditions in the area.

In an interview with FIJ, residents of the area cited water shortage and bad roads as two of the major challenges they face on a day-to-day basis.

Rufai Ghali, 34, a provision store owner, told FIJ that locals struggle to get adequate water to bathe due to the community’s water shortage.

“When preparing my children for school, it is always a challenge to get water for their bath. When we eventually get it, it is never in abundance. I have six children, and most of the time we would have to ration water,” he said.

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“This means, three children would have to make use of a bucket of water that ordinarily should have been used by just one child.”

Haruna Fatai, a banker, said that the water shortage in the area is getting worse by the day.

“The water situation in this place is getting worse every day. These days, we have to beg truck pushers who sell water before we can buy a Jerry can of water for fifty naira,” he said.

Similarly, Mike Effiong, 27, owner of a phone accessories store, told FIJ about challenges motorists face as a result of the bad roads in their community.

“The government needs to help us with good roads in Lugbe. We need its urgent intervention. I have lost count of the number of times I have had to fix my car due to the bad road network around here. The potholes have become death traps for motorists,” he said.

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“It is getting worse every day and whenever it rains, it becomes very difficult to walk on the streets because of heavy flooding and mud.”

In November 2021, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) demolished more than 349 structures in the area. The reason the FCTA gave for the destruction was that the structures harbour thugs and miscreants, who go about terrorising innocent citizens in the metropolis.

However, landlords in Lugbe said the FCTA was insincere in its actions.

Emmanuel Ohenere, a landlord in the area, told FIJ that in 2019, there were several lawsuits from Lugbe landlords against the FCTA over the demolition of their properties.

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“The reason they gave for the demolition was a total lie. There were no hoodlums anywhere in the area.” Ohenere said.

“These days, we live in fear every day, not knowing whether there will they will come with another order to pull the remaining houses belonging to us. We will continue to appeal and seek liberation.”

FIJ made several calls to Christopher Zakka, the Abuja Municipal Area Council Chairman, but he did not answer them. He had also not replied to an SMS sent to him at press time.