John Chukwu, permanent secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration is a seasoned technocrat and head of the efficient bureaucracy that supports the land swap policy. He examines the policy and its implementation in this interview with Anayochukwu Agbo, general editor, and Tajudeen Suleiman, senior associate editor We are looking at the land swap policy…
Providing a Suitable Funding Structure
The funding pattern of the land swap project is designed in a way to ensure that projects would be completed on schedule One of the beauties of the land swap programme is the dynamic financial solution it offers to all the stakeholders – the government, the subscribers and the investors. The structure of the total…
Land Swap Is a Great Ingenuity
She is a Lagos-born lawyer and Special Assistant, Legal and Multilaterals to the FCT Minister. In this interview with Anayochukwu Agbo, general editor; Chinenye Eseke, reporter and Adewale Adelola, senior photographer, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, discusses the legal and policy aspects of the land swap initiative in Abuja As the SA Legal and Multilaterals to the…
‘The Law Protects Investors and the FCT’
Ima Okpongete, general counsel and secretary, legal, Federal Capital Territory Administration speaks to Anayochukwu Agbo, general editor; Tajudeen Suleiman, senior associate editor; Chinenye Eseke, reporter and Adewale Adelola, senior photojournalist. Excerpts: What is the legal framework for the land swap policy? The landswap policy is a development strategy initiated by the Senator Bala Mohammed administration…
‘The Idea Is for Mr President to Leave Legacies’
Bala Mohammed, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, discusses his ambitious land swap projects, other signature projects, security and governance in the territory in this interview with Anayochukwu Agbo, general editor, and Tajudeen Suleiman, senior associate editor. He says what drives him is for President Goodluck Jonathan to leave legacies. Excerpts: Congratulations on the…
A Marketer of Distinction
It is either he has always had it or that being thrown into the ring as minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, transformed Senator Bala Mohammed into a consummate marketer. A few years ago, Akpan Ekpo, professor of economics and director-general of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, WAIFEM, advised that…
The Land Swap Districts
For the trial run of the Land Swap Initiative, the FCT chose Phase IV (South), a Greenfield district, where no allocation of land has been made. This choice is deliberate; it is the only phase in the original Abuja master plan that is undeveloped. The only technical document on the phase at the inception of…
Actualising the Dream Capital City
The Land Swap Initiative may soon concretise the vision of Abuja as a true modern capital city A modern capital city in the 21st century must be one with state-of-the-art infrastructure – roads, water supply, underground electrical and sewage connections, telecommunication, health, education, recreation and security facilities, and many more. Building this kind of…
The New Vision
In the face of dwindling federal allocation and increasing infrastructure deficit, the federal capital administration formulated the land swap policy to leverage on private funding to develop the capital city When Bala Mohammed assumed office as Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister in April 6, 2010, what he met on ground was daunting. “I…
Facing the Challenges
Influx of Nigerians into Abuja and lack of funds to develop infrastructure are the major challenges the Federal Capital Territory Administration is finding creative solutions to Twenty-three years after the seat of government officially moved to Abuja, the city has failed to grow with the years. Out of 79 districts that are supposed to…
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