Why FCTA revoked Kano plot – Aliero

Former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Senator Adamu Aliero said a plot of land at the Lokogoma district of Abuja hitherto belonging to the Kano State government was revoked over breach of development terms.

Explaining the issue of revocation of plot 119 in Lokogoma district which is now a subject of controversy between the present Kano State governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and his predecessor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Aliero said the plot allocation was revoked over failure of the state to reach substantial level of development.

While debunking allegations that Shekarau allocated the plots to his cronies, Aliero said “Plot 119 Lokogoma was withdrawn from the Kano State Housing Corporation for non-compliance with the terms of development since allocation on 28 July 2005.

“Hence in spirit of providing cheap and affordable housing speedily in Abuja, it was decided that since some state governments, corporate bodies and individuals did not meet the requirement to develop over the agreed 18-month period, some even failed to do so over three years, there was no alternative than to revoke the allocation and re- allocate the land to mass housing developers who were ready to move into site and provide mass housing for the benefit of Nigerians trooping into the capital city daily.

“Consequently following the decision to revoke, the plot was reallocated to City Shelter Properties Ltd in March 2010 which moved quickly to submit building plans to the Department of Development Control and Mass Housing Department respectively for approval.”

Aliero said though the plot was revoked by his predecessor, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, a review committee later upheld the decision under his administration in line with the policy of the Yar’adua administration on mass housing in the capital city.

“Based on the recommendation of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Moddibo cancelled the allocation of plots which had not reached substantial level of development by September 2008; this includes state governments, corporate bodies and individuals, he said.

Kwankwaso had accused Shekarau of reallocating plots in the proposed estate of the Lokogoma mass housing site in Abuja earlier allocated to the Kano State Housing Corporation, to his cronies, thus denying the state the opportunity to take part in contributing to the housing development of the FCT.