In order to protect the Abuja Master Plan and encourage harmonious development in the Territory, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, (CON) has reconstituted the FCT Urban and Regional Planning Tribunal.
The new members were sworn-in by a representative of the FCT Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Salisu Garba of the FCT High Court at the FCT Minister’s Conference Room, Area 11, Garki I District, Abuja on Thursday.
Addressing members of the Tribunal, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed said that the Abuja Master Plan was developed to serve as a comprehensive framework for the orderly development of a new Federal Capital Territory and that all hands must be on deck to preserve its sanctity.
Senator Mohammed observed that despite the success story of Abuja being able to attract people across the globe, it has resultant effects of unauthorized developments, changes in land uses, traffic congestion, inadequacy in waste management; thereby exerting a lot of pressure on the city infrastructure and the maintenance of the integrity of the Master Plan.
According to him, “the FCT Urban and Regional Planning Tribunal was established under the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act 1992 Cap 138 LFN 2004” and must be given leverage to operate”.
His words: “The functions of the Tribunal is essentially to adjudicate on matters of contravention of the land uses between developers and the FCT Development Control Department, to assist in enforcement of standards / regulations, settle disputes arising from resettlement issues and, act generally as an alternative dispute resolution institution in development matters”.
He recalled that the FCT Urban and Regional Planning Tribunal was first established in 1990 but could not take off operationally due to legal constraints.
The Minister added that in 2005, in a renewed effort to put in place the necessary safe guard for the Abuja Master Plan, the FCT Administration reconstituted the Tribunal and in 2008, a new framework for its operation was finally approved and gazette by the then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as the FCT Urban and Regional Planning (Procedure) Rules 2008.
The reconstituted Tribunal is to be chaired by TPL Ebenezer O. Lufadejun with Engr. Sani Katagun Haliru, Akhigbe Klein Irenen, Arc. Gabe Ugochukwu Adimorah, Aliyu Musa Yawuri as members representing Engineering, Architecture, Survey and Bar professional bodies respectively; while Zaliha Ahmed will serve as the Tribunal Secretary.
Responding, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Tpl Ebenezer Lufadejun expressed personal appreciation to the Minister for appointing him as member/Chairman, saying that he has never seen or spoke to the FCT Minister before this appointment.
“We are fully aware that the Tribunal would work to complement the efforts of the FCT Administration in the enforcement of standards and regulations in line with the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Act”.
The Chairman promised to discharge their duties without fear or favour.
The inauguration was also witnessed by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu, Chief Registrar of the FCT High Court, FCT Chief of Staff and some mandate Secretaries as well as FCT Directors.
