•Cites violating of Abuja Master Plan
Jude Johnson
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has stated that it is set to demolish the official residences of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, presently under construction around the Three Arms Zone.
The Coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Umar Shuaibu, issued the threat when he appeared before the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee investigating the real estate sector in the FCT.
According to the FCTA under this present administration led by the Honourable Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello, the ongoing construction contravenes the Abuja Master Plan.
Shuaibu also complained that notices have been issued by the FCT Administration, informing the management of the National Assembly of an imminent demolition of the four massive structures that will also house the Deputy President of the Senate, as well as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
He stated that: “There are so many buildings and structures that don’t conform to our Master Plan. These structures and buildings are everywhere. There are some in the Three Arms Zone.
“The official residences of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives don’t conform to our Master Plan. They’re located within the Three Arms Zone.
“We have written to notify them of the violation of Abuja Master Plan. We are waiting to move in soon. They’ve been duly notified by us,” he added.
Surprisingly, the said approval was given by the FCT Administration. The funding of the construction is bankrolled by the FCT Administration. It also supervises the construction.
The said structures are located inside the National Assembly. Former FCT Minister and current Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed gave the approval for the construction of the structures during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The approval followed the suspicious sale of the official residences of the presiding officers of the National Assembly, located in Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.
Since the sale of the former official quarters, the FCT Administration has been spending billions of naira yearly to pay for the house rents of presiding officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly.
The current FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, since he assumed office in 2015, has approved millions of naira for the completion of the structures.
The structures are expected to be completed before the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in May 2023.
Credit | Nigerian Tribune