FCTA officials fingered in green areas ‘disappearance’

The FCT Administration has said some of its officials will be investigated for conniving with developers and other individuals to encroach on many green areas in Abuja, the nation’s capital. Both the FCT Administration and some other stakeholders, including the town planners in the nation’s capital, noted that the infractions to the green areas are […]

The FCT Administration has said some of its officials will be investigated for conniving with developers and other individuals to encroach on many green areas in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Both the FCT Administration and some other stakeholders, including the town planners in the nation’s capital, noted that the infractions to the green areas are being done with total violations of the already distorted master plan of the capital city.

Green areas are spaces with greenery for recreation and environmental benefits within an urban setting. They are often covered with vegetation like grass, trees, shrubs, or other plants, and in some places, subject to approval, are designated as parks, gardens, community gardens, and natural areas.

Abuja Metro reports that the continued infractions on the master plan are also affecting waterways, drainage, areas meant for convenient passage of sewage and locations where electricity high tension wires pass through.

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Many stakeholders, including some departments of the FCT Administration believe that such contravention cannot be done without the knowledge of some officials.

The Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Chief Felix Obuah, during his recent visit to Guzape District, confirmed that some FCTA officials would be investigated in respect to the infractions.

Although, Obuah did not name the affected officials, he said any of them found wanting would be punished according to the civil service act.

Our sister publication, The Weekend Trust, had earlier carried out a detailed investigation on how these reserved areas have been under threat with developers erecting structures on them.

Although some of the stakeholders believe this has been going on for some time, they said such abuse is overwhelming under the present FCT Administration.

It is believed that these areas are being sold to interested buyers and speculators, or reallocated to highly connected individuals in flagrant violation of the Abuja Master Plan with the support of the officials, especially those in the administration of land.

 

Areas mostly affected

Abuja Metro reports that most areas reserved for green areas in Guzape, Wuse, Central   Business, Utako, Jabi, Wumba districts are being distorted.

In some cases, duplexes and other high buildings are being built on either the green areas or on the waterways.

In Guzape District, credible sources said about 70 hectares of green area and high-tension pathways in the district have now been fully allocated for residential building with construction currently ongoing in some of the places.

For instance, a green area located along Abdulrahman Okene Street, where a U-shaped land totalling 3.4 hectares was originally allocated as a park and recreational area, has been reallocated for residential building.

Recently, officials of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) of the FCTA went to the same Guzape District and nabbed one of the estate developers for allegedly encroaching and converting waterways and green areas, selling the same to unsuspecting subscribers.

The Coordinator of the AMMC, Chief Felix Obuah, who led the top management team to the site, said an investigative committee’s report indicated that the developer grossly abused the approval given to him.

The AMMC team also discovered some green areas already violated in Utako, Katampe, and Wumba districts.

In Maitama District, a flood plain area that can be sighted from Shehu Shagari way, opposite CBN training centre, has also been fenced purportedly allocated as plots for development.

Such infractions were also noticed at the Central Business Districts. These include the site for the construction of a magistrate court along Funmilayo Ransome Kuti Road, adjacent AYM Shafa Filling station in Garki, was originally a park that was re-designated.

Another area that has been reassigned is behind the Government Secondary School, Area 3, Garki. Already, plots are being fenced ahead of constructions. The new plots could be sighted from the NNPC Mega Station.

Elsewhere, construction work on a green area is ongoing around the National Mosque. The site is crammed on both sides of the Nigeria-Export Import Bank, City Park and the Wood Bridge Park.

Also, at Kado Estate, there has been some clearing works in an area opposite Lakeview Homes by Phase 11 gate, which is along a waterway.

Although, the area had already been fenced with iron plates, officials of the Development Control Department of the FCT Administration had marked it with “stop work” inscription.

 

FCTA officers fingered

The Coordinator of the AMMC, Chief Felix Obuah, has said some officials of the FCT Administration, especially those that have to do with land administration are being investigated.

Obuah, who spoke when he led a monitoring team to Guzape District, said developers could not alone carry out such massive distortions to the green areas without the knowledge of some government officials in charge.

He said those involved would be fished out, investigated and meted with stiffer penalties.

But during a recent interview with Daily Trust, the immediate past chairperson of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (FCT Chapter), Tpl Lami Ayuba, gave reasons why government officials were under pressure to re-allocate such reserved areas for other purposes.

To her, the craving to live in some popular districts like Maitama, Guzape, and Garki is what is putting pressure on government officials to convert green areas to residential buildings.

She said: “There are 92 districts in Abuja and only 20 have been developed, and because the government has not shown commitment to open up infrastructure in other districts, a place like Guzape is becoming congested and all kinds of allocations are being made there.”

She said the pressure on the government from various quarters is causing some of the officials to be violating the master plan by re-allocating green areas for other purposes or mixed use as the case may be.

 

The battle to reclaim the distorted areas

The FCT Administration, through the AMMC, said it has declared total war on the erring developers and the individuals that had violated or about to violate the areas reserved for green areas or those under electricity high tension and flood plain areas.

Apart from the raid on Guzape District, the Coordinator of the AMMC, Chief Felix Obuah, also led his team to Utako, Katampe, and Wumba districts, emphasising the urgent need to protect critical green areas, which, according to him, had been compromised by unauthorised construction.

He warned developers engaging in unlawful land activities, saying no exceptions will be made in the ongoing enforcement exercise.

“The encroachments are obstructing vital waterways and green spaces, which are essential to the city’s ecosystem. If we allow this to continue, we are risking major environmental and public safety consequences. These structures will be demolished, and that’s not negotiable.”

The team identified several construction sites that have either encroached upon waterways or disrupted the natural environment, a violation of the city’s development rules.

At Wumba District, Obuah directed the immediate demolition of several duplexes encroaching upon a designated green space, which was originally intended for park development.

“It’s unfortunate that some developers have ignored warnings and continued construction without proper authorisation. This area, which should be preserved for public use, is now under threat from illegal structures. We will not allow that to happen,” Obuah asserted.

In Katampe, the AMMC took similar action, ordering the demolition of ongoing developments without valid title documents. Obuah stated that despite prior notices, the developer continued work without responding to the FCTA’s request for verification of legal documents.

“We have asked for documentation, but instead of complying, construction continued. Now, the only solution left is to clear the area completely. I’ve given the developer 48 hours to appear with the necessary paperwork, or we will proceed with the demolition,” Obuah warned.

Abuja Metro reports that less than the 48 hours’ order given by the AMMC, the Director of the Development Control Department, Tpl. Mukhtar Galadima, led the demolition team to the districts to pull down some of the identified houses.

He confirmed that no less than ten duplexes in Wumba District were identified for demolition due to unauthorised construction on designated green spaces.