The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam, has suspended the granted of building plan approval on plot that falls within the redesigned enclave of Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Estate in Katampe extension district.
The FCTA made the disclosure in a statement issued by the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The Minister who earlier paid a working visit to the Estate explained that the suspension had become necessary due to the ongoing harmonisation of developments in the district, as the Minister has already set up a committee to profee solution to the conflicting allocation within the estate especially those falling within areas designated as walk ways. Parking lot, recreational facilities and green areas.
“Consequently, all ongoing development in the affected area is hereby suspended pending resolution of the matter as the Minister of FCT has already set up a committee to proffer solution to the conflicting allocation.
He decried the current state of illegal developments in the ECOWAS Estate Katampe extension, saying that there was a myriad of contraventions, including arbitrary change of land use, among others, which must be corrected.
“This is to inform the general public that the management of AMMC, AD/ICT is not granting building plan approval for developments in ECOWAS Estate Katampe extension, due to the ongoing harmonisation exercise of the district, in line with the Abuja Master Plan,” It stated.
Speaking on the development, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Estate Residents Association, Dr. Austin Maho stated that the Minister had earlier visited the estate and expressed reservation on some of the development he saw on ground.
” The Honourable Minister FCT visited the estate and saw things for himself.
The original plan of this diplomatic estate has been debased and bastardised by greedy officials of the Ministry. They have been giving the Honourable Minister wrong information. They created the impression that there were still houses within the estate to be allocated whereas it was a ploy they used to allocate walk ways, children’s play ground, sports grounds and others.
Imagine someone carrying a Cof O indicating that he was allocated a dwelling unit in a block of flat while the schedule contradict itself showing a plot of land.
The level of official corruption in land administration in the FCTA is frightening
We commend the minister for taking time out of his very busy schedule to visit the estate. He has promised to institute a committee made up of officials of the FCTA and the estate management to address the problem.
