ABUJA MASTERPLAN: FCTA TO HOST STAKEHOLDER CONFERENCE

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has braced to address critical issues arising from the implementation and abuse of the FCT masterplan.  Consequently, a stakeholder conference on the theme of “Repositioning Abuja for the Development of a Sustainable City,” is planned to hold within the first half of this year.

Similarly, a charge has been given to the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) and other concerned organs of the Administration to implement the report of the Committee set to look into the problem of uncompleted and abandoned buildings in the FCT.

These decisions were part of the resolutions of the FCT Exco meeting held on Thursday the 11th of January.  

In her memo to the Exco, the Director of Urban and Regional Planning Department, Zaliha-u Ahmed (Mrs) identified the challenges in the implementation of the Abuja Masterplan by past Administrations which resulted in a myriad of problems. Some of these problems she noted, include: unprecedented population explosion, land use conversion and distortion, non-adherence to the provisions of planning laws and regulations, funding challenges and resettlement issues among others. FCT Exco resolved to proffer practical, realistic, achievable and sustainable solutions to these identified problems.

Addressing members of the Exco, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello noted that what has happened to Abuja masterplan was nothing new. He stated, “Every city goes through a processes that require constant review of its masterplan.  The good news is that it is not too late to salvage the situation.”

Malam Bello bemoaned the challenge of funding and noted that this was why the FCT Internal Revenue Service (FCT IRS) has been reconstituted. He therefore urged the agency to lead the charge for generating the money to fund the provision of infrastructure in FCT.

The Minister, urged all members to rise up to the challenge of running a working city where the laws are enforced and revenues due the Administration are collected.

It could be recalled that the Abuja Masterplan was designed by Messrs International Planning Associates (IPA) and was based on certain assumptions philosophies and objectives including prevailing economic and social realities. Some of these have changed over time and put a strain on the continued use of those parameters as a basis for developing the city, necessitating a review.

In the same vein the Administration has over time expressed concern over the spate of abandoned plots and uncompleted structures in the FCT which have had implications on the aesthetics and security in the city.

Cosmas Uzodinma

Chief Press Secretary 

to FCT Minister