FCDA warns against distortion of Abuja master plan

The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has warned against developments that would distort the Abuja Master Plan and turn it into a disorderly city. The FCDA said it would deal with developers who might want to test its resolve to maintain and preserve the city as the pride of the nation, stressing that such developers […]

The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has warned against developments that would distort the Abuja Master Plan and turn it into a disorderly city.

The FCDA said it would deal with developers who might want to test its resolve to maintain and preserve the city as the pride of the nation, stressing that such developers should be ready for repercussions as the authority would not fold its hands and allow Abuja deteriorate to the point where there would be clamour for another relocation of the nation’s capital.

The Executive Secretary of FCDA, Engr. Umar Gambo Jibrin, gave the warning when he led an inter-departmental technical committee on an inspection tour of some parts of the city to assess degradation due to the activities of illegal developers.

In a statement, the FCDA Executive Secretary’s spokesman, Richard Nduul, said, “Very critical of such abuses include the encroachment on right of way for engineering infrastructure such as waterways, sewage and electricity lines, as well as road corridors. For instance, it was observed that an existing contract for the extension of water supply to all the districts in the southern axis of the city, like the Abuja Technology Village, and all privately developed estates, have been stalled by an encroachment by Peace Court Estate; where some buildings are standing on the right of way of the water lines along Ring Road II.”

Nduul, however, said the FCT Administration (FCTA) under the leadership of the Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, would give any developer or investor interested in doing genuine business in the city and territory the necessary technical assistance.

The Technical Committee of the FCDA which consists of the Departments of Engineering Services; Engineering Design and Evaluation (DEDE); Urban and Regional Planning; Development Control; Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB); FCT Water Board; Parks and Recreation; Lands; as well as the Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS), also frowned at the activities of illegal car wash and car sales spots, which it said had taken over pedestrian walkways and exposed the roads to failure due to the use of chemicals and detergents.

Nduul added that, “To worsen the situation, some of these car wash saloons break into treated water lines as their sources of water supply.”

He further said the committee also inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of the Idu Train Station Road in readiness for the resumption of full train services after the lockdown.

He explained that, “The road is being resurfaced, provided with proper drainage, street lights and security fencing. This is being done in realisation of the fact that both local and foreign visitors use the road to access the train station in order to connect the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, as well as Kaduna.

“The access road to the Gosa Dump Site which has been in bad shape over the years is also receiving attention. This contract which was awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) as part of the COVID-19 emergency projects is the first rigid pavement (concrete road) in Abuja. Using concrete to construct the Gosa Dump Site access road will ensure durability as asphalt is known to be susceptible to attack by the acidic nature of the site. Besides, the life span of concrete is twice that of asphalt, which is between 20 and 25 years.”