The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Mohammed Musa Bello, has vowed to wage relentless war against land thieves that have encroached the University of Abuja.
The Minister, who spoke today, October 14 when the management of the University paid him a courtesy visit in his office, said that since the FCT had set up a small technical team to frontally confront the challenges of encroachment in the University, his administration would now work out achievable goals to carry out the assignment.
“We had before now marked some points for demolition, what we will do now is to revisit them, work with relevant departments and units including town planning and carry out the exercise in line with the Abuja Master Plan.”
Muhammad Musa Bello said that he would soon pay a visit to the University to physically assess the structures and developments on the campuses.
The Minister noted that the University and the Ministry had a long standing relationship that had been mutually beneficial to the two parties.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, said that he was at the Minister’s office to solicit for cooperation to end the encroachment on the University’s land.
“We need assistance with the Development Control to demolish all illegal structures already marked for demolition without action. We need the cooperation of the Honorable Minister to reclaim the other University land from further encroachment by whatever way the Ministry might assist, including resettlement of legitimate and yet to be resettled natives.
“As the University intends to embark on zero –tolerant illegal settlement campaign, we solicit for the cooperation and understanding of the federal capital territory, the development control and the FCT police command in ensuring a hitch-free exercise.”
Professor Na’Allah said that the University is also in need of basic infrastructure such as rehabilitation of the road and drainage networks in Giri staff quarters and Main campus as well as provision of street lights.
