The Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the current leadership of Senator Bala AbdulKadir Mohammed recently went tough with developers who violated the provisions of the Abuja Master Plan. The Minister’s relevant agencies sealed off no fewer than 70 properties located in the high brow areas of the city even as over 30 of such properties located in the city were duly served with appropriate contravention notices/bills for violators of the plan.
The Minister made it clear that his team of officials have been on their toes and working 24 hours round the clock to protect the provisions of the Master Plan from being violated by illegal developers and those who want to cut corners in the process of developing their properties.
The Minister commended the vigilance of the officials of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) and other officials of FCTA for carrying out their assignments effectively which led to the sealing off of such properties and the issuance of violations notices to the affected developers.
Areas affected in the exercise which was carried out between July 1 and the first week of September include Wuse II, Gwarinpa II and Maitama.
Typical of the quiet but effective leadership style of senator Bala, the decision affected developers whose properties are all located in the well-to do areas of the city since according to the Minister, the law and actions taken are not respecters of either status or class but meant to ensure full compliance to the Abuja Master Plan in all its ramifications.
Senator Bala warned those affected that henceforth, property owners in any part of the FCT, especially those in the city center, who contraven the Abuja land use law in any way would have their properties not only sealed off but would be forced to pay heavy fines as prescribed by the law establishing the plan. Bala also directed his officials to be bold and vigilant in doing their work at all times as the whole FCTA management is in full support of their actions and will continue to encourage and protect them.
The FCT Minister is worried that actions of these developers and property owners are adversely affecting the city’s plans and programmes, asking property owners to use their properties according to the FCTA laws as contained in the Abuja Master Plan and approvals issued by the Development Control Department.
It is on record that a total of 473 buildings have so far been submitted to the Development Control Department out of 384 that were duly approved while another 263 setting out stages applications are being studied.
Meanwhile, FCTA has commenced enforcement of re-decoration of property that exhibits some level of decay in the capital city.
To this end, Development Control Department was directed to invigorate the process of enhancing the aesthetics of individual property in Federal Capital city to give Abuja the facelift it deserves.
The Minister, who gave the directive, called on residents of the Territory, particularly property owners, to cooperate with FCTA. He insisted that everything would be done to maintain the Abuja Master Plan as Abuja remains the window through which the world sees Nigeria.
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