The Federal Capital Territory Administration, (FCTA) has warned owners of undeveloped landed property in parts of the Wuye District to commence development on their plots or risk revocation.
The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, Umar Shuiabu gave the warning when he led the Ministerial joint taskforce on sensitization of Wuye residents ahead of its planned cleanup and demolition of illegal structures in that District.
Speaking while on inspection of affected areas and sensitization of the residents, the Coordinator noted, “We have many environmental, security and aesthetic challenges in parts of Abuja, including this area, and this calls for sanitation of such places.
“Abuja is a planned and beautiful city with world-class infrastructure not seen in some countries, so we must not give anyone reason to question the sanity of this city.
“We have constructed a beautiful road network here but what we can see is illegal use of the road by mechanics and hawkers, among others. This has rendered this road impassable. We want to remove this embarkment and give an opportunity to all citizens and plot owners to use this road.
“In fact, there are other places also where these scavengers have taken over, we will do whatever that is legally possible to clear them. It is not only here, but in every other part of the city where illegality exists, we will remove it, till the time we will we have money to provide the infrastructure.“
Speaking on the risk of revocation of undeveloped plots, the AMMC boss said the FCTA was going to revoke and reallocate to those willing and able to develop the area, “Instead of allowing it to lay fallow.
“Instead of developing this land, they leave the land and make it turn into a challenge for the city management.
“We have already provided infrastructure and the plot owners have not taken over. We are going to give them final notice if they don’t develop it we are going to revoke it and give it to those who will develop it.
“The ultimatum is already in the papers for the land and we have the power to revoke the land.”
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Mr Attah Ikharo, disclosed that the Minister went around the area and it was very clear what he wanted.
According to him, “He wanted a massive cleanup of the entire area around Utako motor park, along Tunde Idiagbon Way, shouldn’t have nothing of illegality considering what he stood for during his life, and it is an all-encompassing job, which comprises of illegal motor parks, truck parks, illegal Pantakers, and others.
“The Minister also directed that all illegal structures and several contraventions that run short of AEPB Act and regional Planning Act should be removed and cleaned up in line with the Abuja Master Plan. In less than a week Utako will wear a new look.
“The Minister is very clear about it (revocation of undeveloped plots). He asked the Acting Director of Development Control to go with his team of town planners, inform and notify the plot owners to take over their plots within a stipulated period, or else the plots will be recommended to the Minister for revocation. We cannot have plots being a hide-out for criminals.“
On his part, Head, Monitoring and Enforcement, AEPB, Mr Kaka Bello explained that his team had served them notice, but was dissatisfied with the level of compliance.
PIAK
