‘Culprits’ of land use violation (II)

The transit way is to contain the exclusive BRT and the Abuja light rail corridor proposed in the Abuja master plan. It is aimed at easing intercity transport problems. This reservation has never been allocated for any use either on temporary or permanent basis by any FCT Administration in the past other than the present. […]

The transit way is to contain the exclusive BRT and the Abuja light rail corridor proposed in the Abuja master plan. It is aimed at easing intercity transport problems. This reservation has never been allocated for any use either on temporary or permanent basis by any FCT Administration in the past other than the present.
There was a time the transit way and the boulevard were encroached. But, due to the priority accorded them in the master plan, the encroachments were all removed in 2004. We should not be seen to be committing similar mistakes for the second time. Allocation here must not be allowed.
It was mentioned in our previous edition titled Abuja Garden City on the Brink, that “mistakes have been made. Areas which are not to be built upon according to the master plan have indeed been built up. Allocations were made on right of ways, some cutting across proposed transit roads, flood plains, stream valleys, hill tops and water ways, to powerful politicians and high government functionaries”. Also, “green spaces are being leased out on commercial basis for different incompatible uses by the Park and Recreation Department, distortions are now perpetrated by giving the parks different themes and allocating them on lease hold”. The case of the A-Class as it unfolds is a clear fallout from those misdeeds.
 From our deductions the temporary allocation of the A-Class Event Center on the transit way was made by a different department, not the one enforcing the land use compliance. But the magnitude of the development is such that it is only within the purview of the Development Control Department to grant the approval for the building permit. Irrespective of the five-year period the temporary allocation is expected to last as stated, the Control Department cannot issue any development approval on the transit way due to land use violation, hence the request for undertaking to remove the development at anytime the authority demands. The developer consented, not stating the five-year tenure for the allocation.
We suggest that all ambiguities be cleared while respecting necessary rule prior to executing any enforcement order. Mistake was committed in the allocation. Any other mistake in the process of the removal of the development shall be tantamount to committing two wrongs, which never translates to a right.
The authority must always feed the public with the correct information without contradictions. For example, is it true that it requires the area now because the ongoing transit way development has reached a stage that requires the removal of these structures? If not, a scenario of making the public believe that it is driven by ulterior motive is obviously created.
The sections of the transit way under construction are on Lot 1 and 3. They are expected to be completed in 2013/14 baring all hitches. Lot 1 is to cover Idu to Kubwa and Gwagwa to Garki, with a distance of 51km. Lot 3 on the other hand is from transportation center to the airport, covering a distance of 30km. In July this year, the FCTA announced the commencement of the 12 rail stations development to serve these sections of the transit way development. The section of the transit way where the A-Class is located is not part of either Lot 1 or 3.
The critical question is, why should the authority hinge its reason on the transit way’s development reaching a stage where the structure needs to be demolished when the area is not even among those currently under development? Perhaps, Senator Aisha Alhassan could have a point when she linked it to her belonging to opposition political group.
Conversely, there is a signed undertaking by the developer to remove the development anytime government directs. A Hausa adage has it that it is only when there is a crack in the wall that a lizard gets space to penetrate.