The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has once
againcautioned against the building of structures within the FCT,
without properapprovals from relevant agencies of the Federal
Capital TerritoryAdministration saying that all buildings must fit
into the overall structure ofthe Abuja Masterplan.
The Minister said this when he received members of the
GoverningCouncil of the University of Abuja, led by its Chairman and
Pro-chancellor,Prof Ahmed Modibbo Muhammed, on a courtesy visit to the
FCTA.
According to the Minister, the FCT was a creation of law and asa
result, no building should be erected within the Territory without the
supervisionand approval of officials of the FCTA.
He emphasized the importance of this saying that public
buildingsthe world over are subject to supervision and advised the
universityauthorities to always follow these guidelines in the course
of developing theuniversity infrastructure.
In the words of the Minister, “usually, when land is allocated,no
matter how vast, its development has to fit into the overall
masterplan andeverything has to be placed in the right location”
He also said that the university should have its own
comprehensiveMasterplan that fits into the Abuja masterplan, whereby
the Universityauthorities will work seamlessly with the FCT
Administration in the developmentof the University.
Speaking on the recent kidnap of some staff of the University
byarmed men, the Minister commended the University authorities
especially theVice Chancellor, Prof Abdul Rasheed Na’Allah for the
roles they played solvingthe crime.
He said that the Kidnap attempt was a well-planned attack
targetedat the city of Abuja and it was the intention of the criminals
to get maximum amountof publicity owning to the strategic nature of
the city and raise doubts as tothe security situation within the
nation’s capital.
As a result of cracking that case the Minister added,
severalother planned attacks were prevented from being executed.
While acknowledging the continuous support and
cooperation of theUniversity’s Teaching Hospital, especially in the
fight against the COVID 19pandemic in the FCT, the Minister stressed
that the FCTA will continue to supportthe University, more so, as
staff of the FCTA have continued to take advantageof its proximity to
advance themselves academically and professionally.
He also assured the University delegation that
issues raisedsuch as encroachments on university land and other
concerns will be adequatelyaddressed saying that the University more
than any other public sectorinstitution has played a very significant
role in the development of theTerritory.
The Minister said “For instance Gwagwalada which
is the biggestsatellite town in the FCT would not have been what it is
today without thepresence of the University”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Governing Council
of theUniversity, Prof. Ahmed Modibbo Muhammed, had commended the
Minister for his workin the administration of the nation’s capital,
while also thanking him for thecontinued support the University has
enjoyed from the FCTA over the years.
Present at the meeting were the FCT Permanent
Secretary, Mr.Olusade Adesola, Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam
Bashir Mai-Borno,Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi, Ahmed
the Secretary for EducationAlh. Dahiru El-Katuzu, Vice Chancellor,
University of Abuja, Professor RashidNa ‘Allah, members of the
University’s Governing Council and other seniormanagement staff of the
FCTA.
ANTHONYOGUNLEYE
CHIEF PRESSSECRETARY
5/12/2021
FCTA/OCPS/PR/289
