Wike Revives, Reviews Abuja Land Swap Initiative
By: Wisdom Acka
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has set a Taskforce to examine the Land Swap initiative of the FCT Administration.
Recall that the Land-for-Infrastructure initiative was conceived in 2012 by the Bala Muhammed-led FCTA under former Goodluck Jonathan government.
It was, however, suspended by former President Muhammadu Buhari. It was towards the end of that administration that Gwagwa district development was awarded under the initiative by ex-FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello.
The programme faced several challenges such as agitation by FCT original inhabitants for integration of affected communities amidst apprehension that it would end up a landgrab process.
In his determination to succeed where others failed, Wike has decided to wade into the programme to revive it.
The Minister on Tuesday directed the new Taskforce he recently constituted for issuance of Certificates of Occupancy for Mass Housing estates to extend its responsibility to include review of the Landswap initiative.
According to him, the decision became imperative following several concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the initiative.
Wike said: “We have had a lot of complaints about Land Swap. You have been mandated to look at the agreement and consider its favourability to government.”
The Taskforce, which is headed by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Lands, Urban and Regional Planning, Michael Chinda, is mandated to deliver results within two months.
