BEVERLY HILLS, January 25, (THEWILL) – The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has unveiled plans to take over thousands of undeveloped lands within the highbrow districts across Abuja.
Speaking on the development at a press briefing where he unveiled the administration’s policy direction, Musa Bello, FCT minister, directed all FCT agencies to ensure strict compliance with and full legal enforcement of the provisions of the Abuja master plan.
“A comprehensive review of the FCT land management practices will be undertaken with a view to redressing cases of significant infractions of established procedures such as double allocations, allocations against public interest, or those in complete disregard to the master plan,” he said.
“The review will also seek to ensure that due revenues have accrued to government, and identify failure of beneficiaries to develop allocated lands within legally required time-frame.
“As required by the law governing the allocations of land, all beneficiaries of undeveloped lands within Phase 1 and Phase 2 stand the risk of forfeiting the land to government for reallocation to more able and willing developers.”
While responding to questions on the several abandoned developmental projects, Bello assured Nigerians of his commitment towards early completion of ongoing infrastructural projects including roads, mass houses for low-income citizens, across the nation’s capital city.
The minister, who reaffirmed commitment to restore the nation’s capital city to its original plan, expressed regrets over the re-emergence of slums and squatters in the city, conversion of public lands to private use and rapid degeneration of the city into a disorderly urban market by conversion of residential neighbourhoods to commercial use.
THEWILL recalls that a similar notice was issued by the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, chaired by Herman Hembe (APC-Benue), at the pre-investigative hearing press briefing held at the National Assembly complex.
Story by David Oputah
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