By Stanley Onyekwere
To tackle infrastructure deficit in Abuja, the nation’s capital city, the FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, has flagged off commencement of project under the Abuja Land swap policy in Gwagwa district phase IV, signaling the full resumption of the initiative, barely six years after its suspension by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
In particular, Bello yesterday at a brief ceremony , officially handed over the site to Gwagwa Concession Ltd, and other principal partners of the project that include
Julius Berger PLC and UBA as financiers, for the comprehensive infrastructure development under the FCT Land Swap programme.
Recall that the land swap scheme designed to bridge the infrastructure deficit in the FCT, was initiated by the previous administration in 2012, before it was suspended at the inception of the present administration in 2015.
According to the Minister, the resumption of the initiative would pave way for provision of the desired infrastructure in the areas earmarked for the development.
Bello said the project which is coming under the land swap initiative was developed as a means of accelerating infrastructure development in the FCT.
“This is one in the series of the projects that we are going to flag off before the end of our administration.
“The FCTA is going to be very tough on ensuring the protection of the interest of the State, people and private partners”, he stated.
He explained that the government grant land to private investors, through public private partnership, to boost infrastructural provision in the city.
According to him, investors are expected to within 10-year development plan, facilitate provision of infrastructure development in the given site, encouragement of real estate development in line with the standard set by the FCTA.
He added that the initiative will help to resolve issue of compensation and resettlement of indigenous people.
He noted that government alone cannot fund infrastructural provision in FCT, as the cost of development runs into trillions.
Calling on the partners involved in the agreement to heed to the terms and conditions of the arrangement, the Minister however reiterated determination of the FCTA to ensure the protection of interest of all stakeholders under the land swap policy.
Similarly, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola explained that the return to the land swap initiative followed directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to the Ministers to ensure continuation of existing ongoing projects.
He said it is a capital intensive project by a private company in line with the land swap policy, aimed at assisting the FCTA to accelerate the development of the FCT.
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