FCT minister frowns at encroachment on public spaces

MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello,  has reiterated his commitment to resolving all the knotty issues surrounding land allocation in the FCT in order to put an end to injustice and impunity in land administration in the FCT.

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He made the disclosure in Abuja during an on-the-spot assessment tour of sites and service facilities at the FCT Games Village, following a petition by the residents over the encroachment on public spaces by private housing developers.

Bello, who made the visit to see things for himself, disclosed that  the administration had set machinery in motion for the quick dispensation of justice on all land appeals and petitions in Abuja, which he said,had been yielding positive results.

The minister assured that the observations made at the Games Village would be promptly investigated in order to address the concerns of the residents.

He  decried the unwholesome activities of land grabbers in the FCT whom, he said, were distorting the Abuja master-plan in a bid to satisfy selfish interests. Bello warned them to desist from such activities or be made to face the full weight of the law.

It will  be recalled that the Association of Games Village Estate residents had petitioned the FCT administration over the activities of land grabbers who bulldozed their way and erected private houses on spaces reserved for public facilities at the FCT Games Village.

The residents, who were elated by the minister’s prompt visit, said it demonstrated his sensitivity to the issue and the desire to make things right.

Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Games Village, Alhaji Abdullahi Yahaya, in his reaction, said, “we are most grateful for the minister’s attention and we hope everything will be okay as he has taken up our matter now and under his tenure, we believe the estate will be better.”

Another resident, Chief Mike Obienyi, however, appreciated the FCT minister for the great job he had done in the area of security in the FCT, including the lightening of dark areas that were considered as major security flash points.

He said, “the FCT minister has done a great work and I congratulate him. I urge him to keep it up. Now we can sleep with our two eyes closed.”