Tpl Mukhtar Galadima, the long-serving Director of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Department of Development Control, has retired from service after more than three decades of overseeing development enforcement in Abuja.

Galadima, widely known as the head of the FCT demolition task force, said he was leaving with gratitude and fulfilment.

He joined the FCT Administration in December 1992 as a young Higher Technical Officer and rose through the ranks to lead the country’s most sensitive urban control directorate.

‘I Never Imagined Becoming a Director’

He said his rise in the system was shaped by mentorship, teamwork, and a deep commitment to defending the Abuja Master Plan.
According to him, several reforms implemented under his leadership succeeded because staff members participated fully in shaping them.

Key Reforms During His Tenure

Galadima listed some of the reforms that transformed the department:

• Digitisation of building approval processes
• Introduction of post-development audits
• Decentralisation of area offices
• Upcoming electronic vetting of building plans

He said the goal has always been to shorten approval timelines, strengthen monitoring, and ensure compliance with the Abuja Master Plan.

‘Awareness Is Our Strongest Tool’

Speaking on the tension between rapid urban growth and strict compliance, Galadima said public awareness remains central to enforcement.
Residents, he noted, often alert officials to illegal developments, while department teams work round the clock to ensure enforcement keeps pace with the city’s expansion.

Protecting Abuja’s Future

Galadima expressed hope that the next generation of officers would continue to defend the integrity of the Abuja Master Plan.
He said shared responsibility between government, residents, developers, and regulators remains the only path to sustainable urban development.

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