The Senate committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday vowed to begin investigation into alleged abuse of Abuja master plan from 1999 till date.
Addressing newsmen, Chairman of the committee, Senator Dino Melaye, said that the Committee would not exempt any former President and minister of FCT from the investigation.
Melaye categorically stated: “With this administration of change, it is no longer going to be business as usual. Permit me to remind FCT administration again, by stating that this committee will not hesitate to ensure that all administrative anomalies, misappropriation of funds or misapplication of laws as the case may be, that were occasioned by the past administrations of FCT, are fully addressed. This is what justice demands in this circumstances; to right the wrongs.”
Melaye, while condemning the alleged abuse of Abuja Masterplan, wondered why former FCT ministers allocated green areas designed for flood drains, city buffers, recreations, urban farming, reserved areas for residential buildings.
“Therefore, the committee is worried and frowns at satanic and misleading advice and recommendation to convert very important and beautiful natural endowments or features which are very scanty like the world acclaimed Maitama Hills, popularly known as Ministers’ Hills, which could serve as a tourist attraction to the residents of FCT.
“I want to state here again that if the bourgeois of this country need a special allocation, a new district can be dedicated to them and not destroy the beauty of the city centre, a national monument like the Maitama Hills.
“Therefore, the committee’s decision on these allocations remain unwavering. A stop-work order must be served by the Department of Development Control and all trees removed must be replaced. The committee demands that 100 per cent of its instructions must be adhered to,” Melaye further noted.