By Ibrahim Biu
The back breaking work of administering the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory can only be appreciated if we put a few tracts in perspective. Imagine a third-world developing country with a population in the region of 180 million people, coveting a national land-mass of 424,000 square meters with annual GDP of about US$500 billion involved in building a new federal capital for a plural society in a frenzy of primitive capitalist accumulation. You then begin the unenviable Olympian task before the minister to rise up to the occasion.
It was, perhaps, in recognition of the enormity of the task of administering Abuja that the office of the minister was also granted gubernatorial or mayoral powers. However, the common denominator of all past administrations of the FCT was that they all depended safely on statutory government budgetary allocations to execute the projects and programmes of developing the capital territory.
Today, the story is being changed. Senator Bala Mohammed, Kauran Bauchi, the minister of FCT has introduced a novelty that is changing the development strategy of the FCT under different forms of public/private partnership (PPP or P3). This Strategy describes a government service or private business venture, which is funded and operated through the synergy of government and one or more private sector companies.
The most recent in the series of P3s introduced by the minister is the land-swap where parcels of land are granted to private entities perfected on an arrangement to develop the necessary infrastructure. It is expected that on the basis of the land-swap, new residential districts will soon emerge in the federal capital territory. The implications of this new strategic initiative are legion: jobs will be created, residential accommodation shall multiply, land speculation shall vanish, cost for property shall nose-dive and everybody shall be happier.
Interestingly, both the Executive Committee of the FCT and the Economic Management Team, EMT, has applauded the initiative. With this project, Abuja is now on its way to joining the league of capital cities that are centers of global attention despite protests by few individuals especially the natives under the umbrella union.
Unveiling the policy to stakeholders in Abuja not long ago, under the “Phase IV transformation Agenda project”, Senator Bala said: “This is a real property development framework.” According to him, the FCT administration’s collaborating with the private sector to deliver qualitative housing with primary infrastructure in identified new districts in line with the government‘s Transformation Agenda. Acting within its normal powers under the Land Use Act, the FCT will grant land to an interested and qualified investor in real property development. The investor, in exchange will provide agreed and specific infrastructure in the selected district. So far, only the FCT has developed such a revolutionary framework.
Going by this structure, execution of works shall be strict compliance with the scope, specifications and standards of works as certified by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). Importantly, this policy will effectively check the nuisance of land speculation, freezing as well as abuse/distortion of Abuja Master Plan.
Before the land-swap, the Minister of FCT had fast-tracked the Abuja Metropolitan Light rail Development to ease the perennial transport problems of the FCT. Today, the vehicular grid-lock characterizing access to the satellite towns around Abuja is everybody’s nightmare. The cost of transportation around Abuja is prohibitive and the few buses and taxis plying the roads cannot meet the ever-rising demand. It is expected that mass transportation can only be truly actualized with a fast, safe and regular light rail network around the capital territory. This shall soon come to pass.
The Abuja Boulevard that has been on the drawing board of Senator Bala’s predecessor is notches higher today. The World Trade Center will soon bestride the Abuja landscape like a colossus. Work is in progress and with its commissioning, trade, commerce; tourism and international linkages shall blossom. Similar tower and skyscrapers shall also dot the Abuja skyline.
All these are creating jobs and keeping hope alive for the teeming job market.
The fact that these efforts are predicated on synergy between local and international investors to develop the federal capital means that, the FCT administration can now turn its attention to other areas that can boost the provision of social services around the territory.
This includes health services, educational service, security, tourism, etc. these are the true benefits of democracy, and as Bala Mohammed’s P3 comes to town turnovers shall multiply and profits shall skyrocket while one and all shall reap the benefits.
Biu wrote from Abuja
