Reps Seek Review Of Original Abuja Master-Plan

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By; JOSHUA I. EGBODO, Abuja.
The House of Representatives has called on the Minister of the FCT, Muhammed Bello to urgently commence the review of Abuja master plan to reflect the social, economic and demographic realities of the present.
The House also directed the Minister to cause the city’s development control authority to stop further demolition of small and medium businesses within the capital city, pending the outcome of engagement with the House committee on the FCT, and the Minister of Finance, Minister of planning and the Economic team to develop an economic model that seeks to formalise the informal sector, promote a financial inclusion, allow for transmission of monetary policy as well as boost revenue generating capacity of the city.
This  followed a motion under matters of urgent public importance moved by Hon. NNenna Ukeje, who  said that the United Nations figures states that between 2000 and 2010, Abuja experienced phenomenal growth of 139.7 percent making it the fastest growing city in the world at a population of million people.
She said “there have been repeated calls for a review of the Abuja master plan as stipulated in the Abuja master plan to reflect present day realities as the present has ambushed the city’s utopia dream, adding that “certain deviations to the original plan for example NNPC plaza,militry barracks, shehu Musa Yar’adua centre, Asokoro express way, drainage infractions in Apo area that have significantly altered the Abuja master plan remain unchecked as they have been explained to be expedient at the time.
“We watch with dismay as small and medium business have become the focus of the demolition exercise,” she said.
Ukeje also expressed concerns that figures released this week by the National Bureau of Statistics shows that the country is moving from recession to depression following consecutive quarters of negative growth, adding that that the federal government needs to create 30 million jobs for the teeming population.
The House Committee on the FCT is to engage the FCT Minister and relevant agencies of the ministry and report back in two weeks.

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