The minister, in an interview, said that some developments have encumbered full implementation of the master plan, hence the need for its alteration for overriding public interest. “Of course, the master plan is flexible. It is not sacrosanct. It can be changed for overriding public interest or when it impedes the general master plan in terms of road, water ect”, he explained.
The minister said that President Goodluck Jonathan has given him the authority to alter the plan, when and where it becomes imperative, adding that that he has indeed done some alteration in some cases.
He cited the Abuja City Gate, which was moved from its original position to another location as well as railway lines as some examples where the master-plan had been altered. “President Goodluck Jonathan has given me express directive to not for any reason rather than overriding public interest change the master plan through the change of Land Use Act.
Of course, under the Land Use Act, we can have extension, conversion as a statutory responsibility, but it is done by a committee under the land-related departments to survey, development control, land administration and geographic information system and that will come in a report”
He admitted that the master plan has been abused and that his administration is concerned about the restoration of its integrity.
“There is a lot of land conversion and abuse of the master plan, even in the use of the green areas. We are doing so much to make sure we restore the integrity of the master plan, because it is affecting us, but, even then, if you look at our corridors, because of security challenges you will see some places being closed because the city and the master plan were not designed in anticipation of any terrorism.”
He stated that the administration has come up with the concept of urban renewal to tackle the problem posed by the redeployment policy. “The concept of urban renewal was conceptualised by this administration. When I came, I inherited a policy of resettlement and compensation.
The resettlement and compensation policy recognises the constitutional rights of the original settlers. Initially, it was supposed to move every original inhabitant out of the of the city, making sure that his habitation, economic trees and his entitlements are settled once and for all.”
He blamed the inability of government to effectively deliver a policy somersault, even as he believed that the concept of urban renewal would take care of the lapses inherent in the resettlement policy.
“Urban renewal collapses all these problems and challenges into one, because, in the first place, there must be community relations in such a manner that they will agree and, within the same vicinity of abode, it can be turned around and a small portion can be developed to accommodate them while the rest of the portion will go to private investors or the public”.
He argued it was not feasible, a situation where land menu are given to individuals who pay premium and fold their arms for the federal government to pay resettlement and compensation charges, while providing infrastructure at the same time.
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