By Sarah NEGEDU
Management of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, have denied reports of a planned demolition of the official residences of the President of Senate and that of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
This is as the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, Eng. Ahmed Hadi, assured that the official residence of the presiding officers do not, in anyway, contravene the Abuja Master plan, as due diligence had been done in every bit of process for the construction of the structures.
Hadi, while appearing before the House of Representatives adhoc Committee investigating the real estate sector in the FCT, therefore stressed that the purported demolition was not the conclusive position of the agency.
“We want to use this forum to reach out to the leadership of the National Assembly that there was no intention to raise the issue or embarrass the offices of the President of Senate or the Speaker or the Deputy Senate President.”
“The issue is not a conclusive position and we have not reach a climax of forum. We really take exception to that news making round that.
“That is not the position of the FCTA and certainly not the position of this investigative workshop. I’m not mincing words to say that everything that we agree here we will crosscheck with our records of all that has been done.
He said that the development within the three arms zone was intended to house the legislature, executive and the judiciary.
Already, he said a Presidential Complex is being developed for the executive arm of government to serve as residential and office complex side by side the residence of the Vice President which, he confirmed are all provided for in the master plan.
“On the side of the judiciary, is the Supreme Court and the official resident of the Chief Justice of the Federation.
“Somewhere along the line, the legislative arm which occupy the largest complex had no provision for residences of the presiding or principal officers.”
However, the FCDA boss said there has were series of correspondences between the FCDA and the department of Development Control to rectify this.
“And this was what make case between the period 2014, there were armful correspondences between the FCDA and the department of Development Control and after due consultation with the leadership of the national assembly, that this was what is needed to have residential provision within the three arms zone so that it will become complimentary,” Hadi stated.
