…Building being constructed on flood plain/green area

…Master plan not a rigid document – FCDA

The location where the new official residences of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives are being constructed fall on an unapproved zone within the Abuja Master Plan, Daily Trust has learnt.

Sources familiar with the multi-billion naira project told our correspondents that the buildings sit on a green area and do not have a building plan approval.

Normally before any building project takes place within the Federal Capital Territory, a building plan approval must be acquired from the Department of Development Control under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council after which the project will be inspected to make sure it does not fall on an unapproved zone within the Abuja Master Plan.

It would be recalled that the official residences of both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives were located at the Apo Legislative Quarters where most legislators of the 7th Assembly reside.

The quarters meant for the two senior legislators, were however, sold when Senator David Mark was the Senate President and Oladimeji Bankole was Speaker, House of Representatives.

Since then, it was gathered, there has not been any provision for an official residence for the principal officers of the legislature. For many years, the presiding officers of the National Assembly (NASS) have been living in personal apartments with rents being taken care of by NASS.

Daily Trust learnt that former President Goodluck Jonathan later started a new official residence for the Senate president and House speaker within the Three Arms Zone, few metres from the National Assembly complex but completion of the edifice has been severally delayed due to funding constraints.

But people familiar with the Abuja city plan told
Daily Trust that the new official residences being constructed within the Three Arms Zone, are not in the Abuja Master Plan as the area is only designated for the National Assembly complex, Supreme Court building and the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

They said the location where the buildings are being erected was designated a green area.
Green areas within the FCT are areas without residential buildings but designated for gardens and parks. They are areas with sprawling greenery of shrubs, plants trees and sometimes ponds mapped out to preserve nature in the midst of developmental constructions.

When contacted to explain why the location has been converted for construction of residences for the principal officers of the National Assembly, the Media Assistant to the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Richard Nduul, said a master plan is not a rigid document.

“The document prescribes the pattern, controls of land uses as well as future developments in order to avoid the chaos associated with unplanned cities.

“Therefore as a guide, it could be reviewed from time to time, either on a piecemeal or a comprehensive basis to accommodate germane omissions or other unforeseen developments such as the need for new residences of principal officers of the National Assembly occasioned by the sale of their former residences as part of the monetisation policy introduced during the Obasanjo administration,” he stated.

The director, Development Control was not immediately available to shed more light on the issue.

Efforts to get response from the spokespersons of the Senate and House of Representatives failed.

Repeated calls to the House of Representatives spokesman, Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia) were not answered as at the time of filing this report.

Similarly, calls to the Senate spokesman, Senator Godiya Akwashiki (APC, Nasarawa) did not go through as his phone was switched off.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/new-nass-principal-officers-residences-violate-abuja-master-plan.html

Well, Since it is all about them and to suit them, it is never and will never be a Rigid doc......It could be altered....

But if it is about the po' masses, Demolition, depression and agony becomes their second name....

So becos it has affected those in power, masterplan is no longer a rigid document but wen dey want to demolish thousands of houses belonging to commoners it's to follow d masterplan in making Abuja beautiful abi

It was insensitive of former President Jonathan to have sold sold these government properties to David Mark and Ike Ekweremmadu at scandalously give-away prices. FGN must not give up on recovering these strategic assets from the buyers and putting them to originally intended purposes. No need wasting money, building another set of buildings.

all animals are equal but some are more equal than the other, please someone should tell our amiable governor here in Enugu that they should stop demolishing people's houses and shops, since they claimed they are doing it to restore the original master plan of coal city, please they should follow in the footsteps of Abuja capital territory. the original master plan of any city is not rigid but are subject to constant change and adjustment bikonu.... The hardship is too much for this poor people over here...

What is wrong with buhari sef...why placing islamic inscriptions and designs on the fence..

So, what are they saying now? Set of confused people...

---

Are you in need of a professional, effective & affordable Website Design for your business or organization? See my signature to contact us today.

UNDER THIS REGIME THERE IS NO RULE OF LAW, STARTING FROM THE DULLARD

Many people were displayed because of the 'Masterplan' Effect. Some lost their lives, e.g. Bolingo

What were they thinking when they sold the official residences

So because it concerns those in power the masterplan isn't a rigid document. If it were the poor masses it would have been rigid. SMH

power is transient

Rubbish Masterplan that cannot guarantee affordable housing for the middle class. That masterplan is fit for the dustbin.

These statements and un answered calls from them are not surprising

take it out

They will auction it to themselves at ridiculously low prices.

Same thing David Mark did

JasonScoolari:
The hypocrisy of this present administration stinks.... These same gang of efulefu's will waste no time to demolish buildings of an average citizen.


Just imagine.

Reread the article, it was GEJ government that started building in an unapproved zone and without building plan approval. Nevertheless, Buhari promised to fix the failures of the past GEJ government like security, economy etc but 5 years down the line, Buhari government is a bigger disaster in everything GEJ failed in. All the gains Buhari made in agriculture and farming has been bastardized by insecurity caused by his Fulani herdsmen terrorists that he has refused to do nothing about.

If it is another place zoom it's marked Police will come and bulldoze it fear fear

Nigeria doesn't have a master plan,not to talk of Abuja. Abuja has no master plan ...

whst kind of house was goodluck trying to build, that it ran out of funds

Abokki na abokki

They should demolished those houses. Who is with me?

Which kain country be this ?

Na wa ooo...

Master Plan not a rigid document? Definitely not the FCDA of the early 2000s under Elrufai, they followed the master plan to the letter back then.

Yeye....

Hmm



Call for our 250,000mAH lithium-ion solar powerbank that could power your TV, laptop, and up to 4 lighting points for up to 10 hours daily