Stick to the FCT master plan, the minister urges residents

The Minister of State of the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, has warned of steps that could lead to a departure from the area’s master plan. The PUNCH reports.

Ms Aliyu made the announcement during the inauguration ceremony of the 14th President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, FCT Department, Ms Lami Ayuba, in Abuja on Tuesday evening.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister, Acting Director of the Department of Resettlement and Compensation, FCTA, Mr. Nasir Sulaiman, stressed the need to support the FCT master plan and noted that urban planners have an important role to play.

NITP National President Nathaniel Atebije called on planners to be brave and encouraged them to imitate Ms. Ayuba.

The newly inaugurated chairperson, Ms. Ayuba, said, “The FCT is one of the well-planned cities in Nigeria. From the beginning, the Abuja master plan provided a blueprint for the development of the FCT. It is very easy to identify the application of planning standards in Abuja, some of which include: the separation of different land use zones; separation of building heights and densities; applying building lines and setbacks; location of, among other things, neighborhood facilities.”

Ayuba identified some of the planning issues in FCT such as land grabbing especially within the regional areas, double allocations, false layouts, overlapping layouts, unapproved developments later resulting in eviction or demolition, cloning of land documents, multiple allocations for a single park resulting in several lawsuits, land use talks straining existing facilities and infrastructure, and absence of bus stops and parking along intra-urban road networks, causing unnecessary traffic and delays.

She also stated that her vision is to advance the urban planning profession and advocate for policies and actions that would address the planning issues in the FCT to make Abuja a livable and inclusive city.