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Newly appointed Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has suspended further allocation of lands across Abuja due to what he described as gross abuse of delegated authorities, deficiencies and misuse of public thrust in recent allocation of land for residential, commercial and mass housing processes.
The minister while addressing newsmen in Abuja also hinted that land allocation between 2007 to date will be probed even as he added that the move does not translate to revocations but rather to ensure that due process where really followed.
He noted that all allocations and Development Control approvals made in line with due process would be sustained.
Mohammed also stressed that all forms of transactions, payments and transfers in respect of plots allocated from January 2007 to date, including Development Control approvals will also be suspended pending conclusion of the probe.
The minister further stressed that there were files scams in Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) and Land Department where some land speculators have been able to break through the electronic system with active connivance of AGIS staff to duplicate genuine allocations and obtain CofO ahead genuine applicants.
"The general public is advised to refrain from open-market land transactions pending further announcement on this matter" he said.
Mohammed further lamented that some officials of the FCT administration have exploited certain loopholes in the billing system to defraud government of millions of naira in the various transactions within the period under review.
"There is the bank draft payment scam in the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS). And this has confirmed the widespread criticisms and petitions from the general public about the land allocation processes in the FCT. The briefs have also revealed that the problems associated with land administration in the FCT are enormous,” he said.
Newly appointed Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has suspended further allocation of lands across Abuja due to what he described as gross abuse of delegated authorities, deficiencies and misuse of public thrust in recent allocation of land for residential, commercial and mass housing processes.
The minister while addressing newsmen in Abuja also hinted that land allocation between 2007 to date will be probed even as he added that the move does not translate to revocations but rather to ensure that due process where really followed.
He noted that all allocations and Development Control approvals made in line with due process would be sustained.
Mohammed also stressed that all forms of transactions, payments and transfers in respect of plots allocated from January 2007 to date, including Development Control approvals will also be suspended pending conclusion of the probe.
The minister further stressed that there were files scams in Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) and Land Department where some land speculators have been able to break through the electronic system with active connivance of AGIS staff to duplicate genuine allocations and obtain CofO ahead genuine applicants.
"The general public is advised to refrain from open-market land transactions pending further announcement on this matter" he said.
Mohammed further lamented that some officials of the FCT administration have exploited certain loopholes in the billing system to defraud government of millions of naira in the various transactions within the period under review.
"There is the bank draft payment scam in the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS). And this has confirmed the widespread criticisms and petitions from the general public about the land allocation processes in the FCT. The briefs have also revealed that the problems associated with land administration in the FCT are enormous,” he said.
