Abandoned police station turns warehouse in Abuja

Looking at the building which supposed to be a police station from a distance, it seems all is well but one would be surprised to see the ruins inside the building. Located opposite the popular Building Material International market at Dei-Dei in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory, the building which […]

Looking at the building which supposed to be a police station from a distance, it seems all is well but one would be surprised to see the ruins inside the building.
Located opposite the popular Building Material International market at Dei-Dei in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory, the building which supposed to serve as Police station overseeing the market in case of security hitches is now a warehouse and store for business operators, artisans carrying out business in the area as well as abode for homeless residents.
Daily Trust gathered that the building which supposed to be a police station was built over nine years ago by the Federal Capital Territory Administration but has been abandoned by the government and the police to rot away.
Restaurant operators, welders, mechanics, furniture makers and water tank sellers carry out businesses around the building now. .
It was learnt that the building was put up almost the same time with Federal Fire Service building opposite the police building, but while that of the Fire service is put to use, the one that supposed to house the police has been abandoned upon completion.
Our reporter who visited the building observed that doors and windows have rotten away while the ceiling are also pulling away.  Some rooms used by those inhabiting the building are protected roofing sheet which serves as doors and window while others rooms serve as warehouse for restaurant and other business operators who keep their items in the building g for safe keeping.
Inside the building the counter is painted in police colour s indicating that the build supposed to be a police station.
Some of the residents of the area who spoke to Daily Trust lamented that the building has been abandoned for almost 10 years wondering why the FCTA and the police authority would allow the building to rot away.
One of the residents who only gave his name as Isaac, said the building has never been put to use since it was constructed
“We learnt that the building was constructed by the FCTA and supposed to serve as a police station and if you enter the building you would see police counter with police colours but now the whole place is in a sorry state as most of the facilities are in ruins while it serves as haven for homeless people, store for those working and selling around the building,” he said.
According to him, the building was constructed almost the same time with the fire service building but that of the Federal Fire Service but that of fire service has been put to use while  that of  the police has been abandoned.
A business operator in the area who craved anonymity said in the last four years he has been carrying out business in the area, the building has been in a state of ruins.
He said the building now serves as warehouse and stores for most of the people carrying out businesses in the area and accommodation for those who had no place to sleep.
Meanwhile, when our reporter visited the FCTA  for response on the building, an officer who declined to give his name said there are no record of such building with them and that once they constructed a building for security organizations, they always handed it over to the beneficiary organization.
But the FCT police command said the building is yet to be officially handed over to them.
Speaking to our reporter, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Anjuguri Manzah, said they are aware that governments, individual and organizations do donate a building to the police hence they always advised them to inform them so as to let them know how to do it to suit the police pattern.
“Though the building has not been officially handed over to the police but the FCT police commissioner on hearing about it had already given directive to go and see the building to see what happened.” he said.