How Asokoro park was converted into ECOWAS car park

It was meant to be a neigbourhood park in Asokoro District, Abuja but the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) requested for it. The commission wanted to own it citing security concerns. Now it has been reduced to mere car park for ECOWAS’ staff and visitors… The park marked No. 430, Cadastral Zone A04, […]

It was meant to be a neigbourhood park in Asokoro District, Abuja but the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) requested for it. The commission wanted to own it citing security concerns. Now it has been reduced to mere car park for ECOWAS’ staff and visitors…

The park marked No. 430, Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District is over two hectares. It is opposite the imposing ECOWAS secretariat in Asokoro District, Abuja. It was intended to be a green area for the neighbourhood. Now, apart from overgrown grass there, the place is target of rent seekers who come and erect unapproved structures.
Initially, NUB International Bank now part of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Ltd had asked the Department of Parks and Recreation, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to allow it adopt the garden in its Cooperate Social Reasonability (CSR) scheme. The bank wanted to develop the land as relaxation centre. FCTA gave its nod but due to several factors like collapse of the bank and change of government the place could not be developed as intended.
Then ECOWAS came in. The commission requested that it be given the land. The FCT Director of Development Control Mr Yahaya Yusuf acknowledged that the land was given to ECOWAS “on recognition ground”. But for failing to do what is expected of the commission, Yusuf promised to stop the commission from using the place as a car park. He said his office once cleared shanties on the land.
Information officer with ECOWAS Haruna Ali Warkani however said that though it is commonly called ECOWAS Park, it was not allocated to ECOWAS.
It was gathered that ECOWAS was given authority to develop the park and exclusively use it because of security concerns it raised. The plan was to make the place a centre where the commission’s guests especially during meetings like council of state meetings would be taken for relaxation and entertainment.
Warkani denied that the land belongs to the commission. He said, “Because it’s located opposite the ECOWAS secretariat, it’s believed that it’s located to ECOWAS. It creates wrong impression about ownership.”
He however said, “The commission is still working toward allocation for expansion of the office [ECOWAS secretariat]. This office is grossly inadequate. We have to rent offices in two other locations in the city for office accommodation. We have in mind to build a new complex like this one so when we have big meetings, we use it.”
Our reporter observed that the commission’s junior staff and visitors to the ECOWAS secretariat now use the land as car park.
Mr Rolands Ologun who is Director of Parks and Recreation Department of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) said government plans to make the place a museum park. Speaking at a public gathering on July 22, 2015, Ologun lamented that Abuja parks have been turned into what they were not intended. He said government is checking that by insisting that those who manage parks must have operation plan.
The Department of Parks and Recreation ensures greening of FCT. It monitors parks and ensures beautification and development of green areas.
ECOWAS has been enjoying land allocation in Abuja. It similarly, got land in Katampe II for a housing project but it could not develop and maintain the land due to lack of finances. It was given it by the federal government. It was said that the commission took a loan to build the estate but it could not pay the loan. The place now bushy is retaken by government. Government now services the loan the commission took. The estate was to accommodate diplomats from the West African member countries of the commission.
A senior government official lamented that Nigeria’s government has been doing big brother at the expense of its wellbeing. He said the ECOWAS secretariat was developed with Nigeria  government’s money and handed over to the commission without any strings.