By Tunde Johnson, Abuja
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, under the aegis of Concerned Abuja Residents Forum have called on Mohammad Musa Bello, FCT Minister to declare a state of emergency on the lingering abuse of the abuse master plan.
In a letter to the Minister signed by Chuks Akamadu the group said that it has observed a brazen distortion of the Abuja Master plan as it regards ‘green area’ especially in Kubwa.
The residents noted that the development of adequate recreational and green areas within the FCT is a key feature of the master plan but does not reflect the reality on ground.
The letter cited the sorry state of Kubwa that does not boast of any meaningful recreational facility or designated green areas as reflected in the actual plan and allays fears that such fate may befall other satellite towns if the Minister does not declare a state of emergency on the abuse of the Abuja Master plan.
It revealed that the green areas have been converted to residential or commercial buildings especially in phase 3 and FO1 layout.
The association noted that with the federal government’s avowed commitment to climate change and sustainable development, it must preserve the green areas of Abuja for the benefit of the residents
“It is common knowledge that the development of adequate recreational and green areas within the FCT is a key feature the Abuja Master plan.
” It is therefore, Abuja’s singular misfortune that the master plan has been brazenly violated that what the city can boast of currently as green areas is indeed a mockery of the what the international planning associates (IPA) designers of the master plan envisaged.
“The brazen conversion of green areas by relevant authorities to commercial and residential purposes in collusion with civil servants, area council’s unrestrained encroachment and reckless subdivision of land and partitioning of green areas in breach of Master have combined to ridicule the concept of Abuja Master Plan,” it reads.
Calling on the Minister and stakeholders to protect the environment, the residents said that addressing these issues of illegal conversion, subdivision and encroachment into green areas will help cushion the effects of global warming.
Investigation revealed that the green areas allotted to Kubwa residents have been converted to other purposes by the powers that be.
A resident who spoke to our Correspondent, Fatima Ahmed said that some personalities connive with their cohorts in government to convert the green areas to either residential or commercial buildings.
The speaker stated that green areas in phase 3 apart from over taken with shanties have also been clandestinely converted to other purposes.
“Last year in October, officials of the federal capital development authority destroyed some structures here and left some belonging to their friends,” she said
Further more, a visit to the green area allotted to FO1 layout revealed that the actual green area on ground does not reflect the original plan as contained in the Abuja Master plan.
