FCT set to recover border territories

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it will collaborate with the National Boundary Commission to ensure that all its boundary areas that have been encroached upon are recovered and protected against future encroachment. The minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, made the disclosure, yesterday, in Abuja  when  the Director-General, Boundary Commission, Dr Muhammad Ahmad, […]

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said it will collaborate with the National Boundary Commission to ensure that all its boundary areas that have been encroached upon are recovered and protected against future encroachment.

The minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, made the disclosure, yesterday, in Abuja  when  the Director-General, Boundary Commission, Dr Muhammad Ahmad, led a delegation on a working visit to his office.

Bello said the FCT Administration would work with the commission to carry out projects within reasonable costs, to ensure that the boundary areas around the territory were demarcated with concrete pillars such that it would be visible to even the lay person.

The minister indicated that structures already sited on the boundary areas around the territory would be removed and compensation paid to deserving affected developers.

He said the high rate at which the population of the territory was expanding necessitated that steps be taken to stop further encroachment.

Bello commended the relationship between the FCTA and the commission, saying it had enabled the administration to have a clearer picture of the boundary.

“All areas that are built up on the border will have to move. With dialogue, we can make arrangement for compensation. The border has to be demarcated and it has to be something those that are not experts can see right through. There should be a buffer zone that differentiates the area. We need to do what the law says,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, Ahmad said a joint meeting had been scheduled in a few days’ time to review the status of the boundary and agree on a new roadmap that would address the challenges of encroachment and counter encroachments.

He advised the FCT Administration and Nasarawa government to stop granting development permits along the border corridor pending the conclusion of work.

The DG also charged the FCTA to undertake a comprehensive census of all the developments on the boundary line along the FCT/Nasarawa area in particular,  for proper records and necessary action.