Ben Agande
7 November 2007
Lagos — THE Federal Executive Council revoked, yesterday, the allocation of choice plots to prominent Nigerians including President Umaru Yar'Adua by the last administration, citing "overriding public interests" as reason.
This decision came on a day the Council also reversed the creation, by the last administration, of two additional ports independent of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
The revoked plots are 38 in number and are located in the highbrow Asokoro area of Abuja. The land was given out without solicitation or application by the beneficiaries such as former governors of Kaduna, Plateau, Zamfara, Ondo and Ekiti states, Mohammed Makarfi, Joshua Dariye, Ahmed Yerima, late Adebayo Adefarati and Adeniyi Adebayo respectively.
Others whose allocations were revoked are former Aviation minister, Dr Kema Chikwe; former Science and Technology Minister, Chief Ebitimi Banigo; former Presidential Adviser, Mrs Titilayo Ajanaku; former Senior Special Assistant, Chief Patrick Cole, Senators Daisy Danjuma and Smart Adeyemi.
Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. John Odey, told State House correspondents at the end of yesterday's Federal Executive Council meeting that the land was originally designated green area.
The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, had demolished many buildings because, according to him, they were erected in green areas.
Mr. Odey said: "Council today (yesterday) ratified the approval given by Mr President for the revocation of the titles over plots within the vicinity of the Pendan Dam located behind the Aso Villa for overriding public interests. Council decided that the thirty eight plots (38) cancelled which included the plot for Mr. President himself, which he acquired when he was a governor, is reverted to its original use which is supposed to be reserved as a green area."
The Minister of State for the FCT, Mr. John Akpanudoedehe, who was with him said the President's decision was informed by his desire to ensure that the Abuja master plan was not distorted and in strict compliance with the rule of law.
According to Akpanudoedehe, those allocated the plots did not apply for them but were given by the last administration.
"What happened was that the people did not request but were given the plots by the last administration. Mr. President was given the plot, not that he requested for it when he was the governor. The FCT administration then distributed the plots to the former governors, some personalities in the society.
"The important thing is that at least the president who you know is a law-abiding citizen and promoter of the rule of law, in sticking to the principle of the rule of law and in keeping faith with the master plan that those designated as green areas be retained as green areas," he said.
One other decision reached by the council was the restoration of the Nigerian Ports Authority to its original position.
By this action, the decision by the last administration creating the Western Ports and Harbours Authority and the Nigerian Delta Ports and Harbours Authority was reversed.
Minister of Transportation, Mr. Diezene Alison-Maduekwe, told State House correspondents that the decision was in accordance with the law setting up the NPA and in response to the concern raised by the House of Representatives.
She said: "Council today (yesterday) has approved that the Nigerian Ports Authority reverts to its status quo as a single autonomous authority in line with the Nigerian Ports authority Act of 1954 as amended in 1999.
This will mean, therefore by implication that the two new ports that were created in May of this year, the Western Ports and Harbours Authority and the Nigerian Delta Ports and Harbours Authority will hereby be dissolved and the NPA will revert to the status quo as directed by the Ministry of Justice and also as observed by the House of Representatives."
The council also approved contracts worth N371 million for the construction of classroom and administrative blocks for Maitama Secondary School, Abuja and renovation of primary schools in Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory.
It also approved the cancellation of the N21 billion contract for the construction of a secretariat for the FCT, citing difficulty in sourcing funds for the project.
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