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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given his approval for the appointment of eight Mandate Secretaries to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The announcement was made by the Director of Press in the office of the FCT Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, through a press statement released on Tuesday.

The newly appointed Mandate Secretaries and their respective areas of responsibility are as follows: Bitrus L. Garki as Secretary of the Area Council Services Secretariat, Lawan Kolo Geidam as Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, and Danlami Ihayyo as Secretary of the Education Secretariat.

Dr. Adedolapo A. Fasawe has been appointed as Secretary of the Health and Human Services Secretariat, while Barrister Salman Dako will serve as Secretary of the Legal Services Secretariat. Barrister Chinedum Elechi will oversee the Economic Planning, Revenue Generation, and Public-Private Partnerships as Secretary of the respective secretariat.

Arch. Uboku Tom Nyah has been appointed as Secretary of the Transportation Secretariat, and Alhaji Muntari Abdulkadir will serve as Secretary of the Social Development Secretariat.

The press statement further stated that the swearing-in ceremony for the newly appointed Secretaries is scheduled for Tuesday, September 12, 2023. The event will take place at the International Conference Center in Abuja, commencing at 12 noon sharp.

These appointments speak to the commitment of the FCTA to ensuring effective governance and administration of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It is expected that the newly appointed Mandate Secretaries will bring their expertise and experience to bear in their specific areas of responsibility.

The FCTA plays a crucial role in the development and management of the capital city, and these appointments are an important step in furthering the goals and objectives of the administration. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's approval reflects his confidence in the capabilities of the individuals appointed to these positions.

As citizens, we look forward to witnessing the impact of these new appointments in the coming months and the positive contributions they will make towards the development and progress of the Federal Capital Territory.

The swearing-in ceremony presents an opportunity for these Mandate Secretaries to formally assume their roles and responsibilities, and it symbolizes the official commencement of their tenure.

By: Wisdom Acka

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been advised to follow movement directory and use alternative roads while commuting in the city.

This is as major roads within the Federal Capital City (FCC) would be diverted to enable contractors handling road resurfacing to carry out the projects unhindered and on time.

Recall that the new FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on assumption pledged that he would resurface all the aged roads in the Phase I of the City including Wuse, Maitama and Asokoro, among others, and the time has come to commence work.

Wike dropped a hint while inspecting projects in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council, that he would flag off resurfacing projects on Monday, 11 September 2023.

A statement signed by the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, reveals that no fewer than 135 roads within Garki, Wuse, Gwarinpa and Maitama Districts would be rehabilitated during the period.

It reads in part: “The affected roads will be closed to traffic and diverted to adjoining roads for safety concern and smooth conduct during rehabilitation works.

“Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), the Police and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) have been duly informed of this exercise and shall be on ground to enforce seamless traffic control and management during the period.

His words: “We regret any inconveniences these rehabilitation works may cause residents and visitors during the period.”

INSTRUMENT OF CONTROL

Its operating instrument is the Development Control Manual. This manual outlines general policies and also set out clear procedures and Guidelines for Regulating Development Control Activities within the FCT. It is structured into three main parts namely;

  1. Policy Guide which set out the basis for deciding planning application or condition to be attached to planning permissions
  2. Planning and Development permit which execute the policies by setting out a number  of detailed  guidelines and standards to be met before grant of   permit and;
  • Investor’s guide which provide insight into the procedure/process involved in obtaining development permit.
  1. It also makes conscious attempt at defining in a user friendly manner the Department’s expectation developer and vice –versa. The development control manual derives it power from sub – section 1 to 3 of the FCT Act, 1977 which requires the approval of the authority (FCDA) Prior to any development and urban & Regional Planning Act of 1992 amended 1998, which states inter alia that “Approval of the relevant Development Control Department shall be require for any land  development”.

 A copy of this manual can be obtained in the account section of the Department at Zone 6, Wuse.

Nine years after its botched plan to demolish several structures in Mpape, a bustling town adjacent the highbrow Maitama District in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA on Wednesday rolled out its bulldozers, pulling down over 2, 000 illegal structures in the area.

Most of the affected structures were roadside shanties, containers and others said to be obstructing traffic flow.

Wednesday’s demolition came after over three months of official notices and warnings to owners and occupants of the said structures.

In August 2012, the then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke had in a letter, advised the FCT, and its then minister, Bala Mohammed, not to demolish houses in Mpape until a case instituted against the Administration at the Federal High Court was dispensed with.

Nine years after, the bulldozers invaded the quarry town, a development the FCTA said was necessitated by calls from residents and landlords who had made  passionate appeals to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello to save them from the traffic gridlock that has made life unbearable in the area. 

Chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Ikharo Attah said Mpape Residents and Landlords Association had six months ago begged the Minister to come to their aid as illegal  commercial activities had taken over the road corridors. 

Attah noted that the sanitation and demolition was long overdue and it was targeted at roadside shanties and other unapproved buildings causing obstruction along the road  

He said; “Mpape demolition was requested by the residents and landlords who came to FCTA requesting the Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello to come and clear the road corridors. 

“So, what we are doing is in line with the request of the people who want the road corridors to be reclaimed so that there will be ease of movement. As a responsible government, we responded to the cries of the people. 

“We gave them enough notice, but many of them were holding on to the erroneous belief that nobody can clear Mpape.

“One of the residents who has lived in Mpape for over 20 years has confessed that people can now breathe in fresh air because of the widened road”.

Also speaking, Secretary, Command and Control FCTA, Peter Olumuji said many of the shanties and the illegal structures demolition were being occupied by criminal elements. 

Olumuji noted that over time, reports had shown that criminal activities were on the increase in Mpape, because of so many shanties providing cover for them.

He said, “this part of Mpape harbours the highest number of criminal elements and a lot of criminal activities which the residents have been complaining about. 

“What the FCTA is doing here today is to ensure that the mandate of securing the city is carried out”.

CONTRAVENTION

It is important to note that it is illegal to commence any form of development in the FCT without requisite permits. Such act will amount to contravention of existing laws namely sub-sections 1-3 of the FCT Act 1976, Urban & Regional Planning Act of 1992 amended 1998 and the provisions of the National Building Code and necessary sanction will be applied.

The below constitute contravention;

  1. Unauthorized change of land use.
  2. Building without relevant permit as at when due;
  • Building when permit has expired;
  1. Building not in conformity with approved drawing;
  2. Building with sub-standard materials;
  3. Building without valid/legal title;
  • Building on public utility facilities and service lines;
  • Unauthorized removal of structure/trees;
  1. Building after revocation of title;
  2. Fraudulent acquired permit;

And the following sanctions will apply depending on the nature of the contravention;

  1. Issuance of relevant notices (stop, Quit and Demolition);
  2. Schmidist Hammer Test/Structural analysis for developers without approval;
  • Mandatory payment of contravention fee as stipulated by Department of Development Control;
  1. Withdrawal of relevant permit;
  2. Sealing of premises;
  3. Outright demolition of structures.

PAYMENTS

  1. Issuance of bill
  2. Payment at designated bank
  • Submission of Bank transaction (teller) for collection of receipt
  1. Submission of 3 sets of drawings for stamping

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