The killing of the concept of new federal capital (III)

Abuja was planned with a vision for the prediction of unforeseen challenges and measures for the arresting of likely adversities, most especially social and environmental.  For all those skeptical about the realities of climate change and global warming it should be clearer to them that, in the current season, throughout last December and January, the […]

Abuja was planned with a vision for the prediction of unforeseen challenges and measures for the arresting of likely adversities, most especially social and environmental.

 For all those skeptical about the realities of climate change and global warming it should be clearer to them that, in the current season, throughout last December and January, the usual harmattan cold wind was replaced with heat, leading to what was referred to as the hottest December in recorded history.

We are already witnessing a mixture of dry winds, haze and clouds preceded with trickles of rains in this February, as we proceed into March. This is another strange whether phenomenon. There is no certainty, whether this will be preceded with drought or flood. Mild or devastating. Whichever it turns out, the elaborate buffer zones provided as green areas around the city are to serve as mitigating measures to the adversities.

One of the major backlashes from the violation of the green areas is the likelihood of the escalation of flood around the city. The theater of flood operation used to be Galadimawa roundabout, Trademore and other places. They are areas located in Phase III of the city development and beyond, away from the city center. Anytime flooding occurs, it results in loss of lives and valuable properties.

We have earlier made it known that 100 years flood regime was considered when creating the buffer zone along the streams in the Central Area District. It is now less than 50 years from the beginning of formulating the plan to the present, the strange whether a phenomenon is emerging. That is the wisdom in the consideration of the 100 years regime. Human lives must be considered more valuable than the developments that would be the sources of disasters.

Not only the human loss, the negative image that floods in the Abuja Central Area District would generate as the capital city of Nigeria should be an embarrassment which must be avoided, if the city government is operating sensibly with focus on protecting the image of the nation’s capital.

Irrespective of the region, religion and tribe of all Nigerians who may criticise the concept of the capital city transfer, the Abuja project is highly successful. Not only that, the capital city has been transformed into a sanctuary for all citizens. Almost all politicians and senior civil servants that reside in the city as a result of official assignment, never go back to their home states after their tenure expiration  or retirement.

They established exotic mansions. Those that have further influence would buy off or force their neighbours to surrender their titles in order to expand their fortresses. Yet, even as they’re safe haven, when saddled with the responsibility of superintending over the city they would be carefree in the protection of its plan. If the city is not beautiful and safe enough, none can be attracted.

Abuja is the first home of most of the high caliber Nigerian elites, because they live much longer here than their home states. There are even serving state governors who operate more from Abuja than their state capitals.

Phase I and II were passionately guarded by the pioneer FCDA and managers against the type of violations that we are now witnessing. Unfortunately, such discipline and professional ethics in the service are now replaced with greed and penchant for wealth and material accumulation as the driving force by the guardians. Whatever prevents the disaster from striking within the Phase I, specifically the Central Area has now been removed by the recent violations.

The plans are sold for some pecuniary gains, by those saddled with the authority for its protection. The prevailing situation is not that of administering Abuja lands but selling. All are worthless and vanities. Many have already gone. All interested land buyers must run away from any land traded, which is subject of green area violation. The Abuja Master plan is a legal document, and ignorance of the law in its development is never an excuse.

Those that were lured to buy the violated lands should not make the costly mistake of sinking their money to develop, if they don’t have enough resources to fall back to, in the event of losing it. We believe there are many plots of land around Abuja which approved land uses are compatible with their needs.

The risk in the development of land that is incompatible with the approved uses in Abuja is too much. Most especially these green areas which many outcries were made. But, the perpetrators acting as predators would decide to be oblivious to the torrents of complains, because of the huge illicit money made at the expense of the buyers.

The usual and mischievous advice given by the perpetrators to their victims is that they should quickly get a building plan approval and commence development before the end of their tenures. These are only insinuations, because it never works, development or not.

The land officers who encourage land use violations and the development control officers who bend the rule to approve the application for building plan would certainly be on the firing line with subsequent regimes. We urge them to beware.

Concluded.