By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
FCT Minister Mallam Muhammad Miss has cautioned all builders against building structures within the territory without property approvals from relevant aencies as he insists that all plans must be compliant with the Abuja Masterplan.
Bello gave advise this when he received members of the Governing Council of the University of Abuja, led by its Chairman and Pro-chancellor, Prof Ahmed Modibbo Muhammed, on a courtesy visit to the FCTA.
Minister disclosed that the FCT was a creation of law and as a result, no building should be erected within the Territory without the supervision and approval of officials of the FCTA.
He stressed that public buildings the world over are subject to supervision and advised the university authorities to always follow these guidelines in the course of developing the university infrastructure.
He said, “Usually, when land is allocated, no matter how vast, its development has to fit into the overall masterplan and everything has to be placed in the right location.”
The minister advised that the university should have its own comprehensive Masterplan that fits into the Abuja masterplan, whereby the University authorities will work seamlessly with the FCT Administration in the development of the University.
Minister commended the University authorities especially the Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdul Rasheed Na’Allah for the roles they played in the release of the recent kidnapped staff of the University by armed men.
He said that the Kidnap attempt was a well-planned attack targeted at the city of Abuja by criminals whose intention is to raise doubts about the security situation within the nation’s capital.
He said that with the cracking down of the criminal several other planned attacks were prevented from being executed.
While acknowledging the continuous support and cooperation of the University’s Teaching Hospital, especially in the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic in the FCT, the Minister stressed that the FCTA will continue to support the University, more so, as staff of the FCTA have continued to take advantage of its proximity to advance themselves academically and professionally.
He also assured the University delegation that issues raised such as encroachments on university land and other concerns will be adequately addressed saying that the University more than any other public sector institution has played a very significant role in the development of the Territory.
The Minister said “For instance Gwagwalada which is the biggest satellite town in the FCT would not have been what it is today without the presence of the University”
Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Prof. Ahmed Modibbo Muhammed, had commended the Minister for his work in the administration of the nation’s capital, while also thanking him for the continued support the University has enjoyed from the FCTA over the years.
Present at the meeting were the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Borno, Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi, Ahmed the Secretary for Education Alh. Dahiru El-Katuzu, Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Professor Rashid Na ‘Allah, members of the University’s Governing Council and other senior management staff of the FCTA.
