Wuse residents rise against plot conversion

Wuse district was originally designated residential but because quest for business premises has risen, many residential plots have become commercial. Because of high premium demanded by landlords, many residential places are not taken. Their owners resort to converting them to business premises. Investigations showed that some plot owners do not seek government’s approval before doing […]

Wuse district was originally designated residential but because quest for business premises has risen, many residential plots have become commercial.
Because of high premium demanded by landlords, many residential places are not taken. Their owners resort to converting them to business premises.
Investigations showed that some plot owners do not seek government’s approval before doing their conversion.
The result of all this is congestion, gridlock and chaos.
Our reporter who visited Aminu Crescent last Thursday, saw two plots which once contained blocks of flats being turned into plazas.
The two plots which are opposite Ansar-ud-deen Central Mosque sandwich to the Regent School, Wuse.
Residents said they suffer traffic chaos during “drop and pick” hours.
Apart from the Regent School, Ansar-ud-deen Central Mosque also has a nursery/primary school so parents who take their children there contribute to the jam created by parents of the Regent School children.
Residents said Friday is a nightmare to them.
It was observed that one of the plots was marked X with instruction “Revert” by the Development Control, yet men were still working on the plot.
A resident who lives in a flat next to the marked plot, Yusuf Ahmed pleaded, “In view of the recent bombing in Emab Plaza, locating another mega shopping plaza illegally near a major mosque, a school and residential buildings poses a serious security risk to residents and families.
“We therefore appeal to the development control authorities to ensure that the property revert to their originally approved use.
“The risk is much more than the contravention fees the developer may wish to pay.”
Before a plot is converted from its original purpose, approval must be obtained from government.
The person seeking to convert the plot must write the Urban and Regional Planning Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) which will assess the situation, make a report and submit it to the FCT Minister for approval.
This process, according to residents around the place has not been followed.
They therefore appeal to Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) to rescue them by putting an end to what the developer is doing.
“They’re turning almost every space into commercial area. Government is not seriously enforcing development rules,” one of them told Daily Trust.
The Public Relations Officer of Development Control, Mr Emetu Kalu said government has not relented in ensuring the right thing is done.
According to him, apart from directing the developer to “revert to the original plan”, disciplinary action has been taken against the district officer whose duty it is to see that such does not happen.
Said Kalu, “The department is still going to do what it’s supposed to do. We have already warned them not to continue to work.
“Having asked them to revert, action will be taken. We’ll not inform them again because that’s the law,” he said.