Alhaji Garba popularly known as Dan Yarbawa of blessed memory, was a renowned Jos businessman. He once lodged a complaint to the Development Control that the Bolingo Hotel was using part of his plot for its access, and needs the Authority’s intervention to claim that portion. When we went for the site inspection, the Hotel security witnessed our presence and overheard our discussion.
They quickly informed the hotel owner. He furiously came down to challenge us with his explanation. As soon as Alhaji Garba saw him, he shouted Igwe! When Chief Igwe also recognized himhe also shouted Alhaji! And they embraced each other. Alhaji Garba looked at me and said, the last time I saw this man was in Ghana, when he ran away and left us there. They all laughed. That was how the matter ended between them. They have already departed this acrimonious world, individually the way they arrived.
Actually, the access was temporary, pending the provision of the proper access along the service lane behind. The problem was that, the Chief applied and got the service corridor erroneously allocated to him. According to the plan that is his access and other surrounding lands. Prominent among them was a prominent Church. The report we submitted on the matter were copious. Some were presented in the Accidental Civil Servant, under the heading ‘Chief Igwe came calling’.
Again more than 20 years ago prior to the construction of the Mabushi interchange, there were encroachments on many sides of the reserved road corridor. Prominent among were high-rise blocks of the Federal Ministry of Works, and a petrol filling station belonging to Alhaji Garba, may his gentle soul rest in Jannatil Firdaus. That one couldn’t be saved for so many reasons.
As earlier explained, the Expressway is the highest hierarchy of the road system in the City. The Expressways in Abuja are the Inner Northern and Southern Expressways, Outer Northern and Southern Expressways, Northern and Southern Parkways, and the Ring Roads I, II and III. Next were the Arterials. The original plan was to have a full cloverleaf interchange at Mabushi. Because it is a crossjunction of 2 major expressways, the Ring Road I (RRI) and the Northern Parkway (N8/N9).
A roundabout was earlier provided akin to what is obtained at the Junction between the N5 Arterial and RRI, popularly refers to as the Berger Junction. But it couldn’t work, due to the heavy traffic congestion being experienced. We can imagine how it would have been today if the proactive measure of complying with the original plan was not implemented. That was how a whole high rise administrative block of the Federal Ministry of Works and the Petrol Filling Station were unavoidably removed.
The same situation is what is being avoided at all the cross junctions between the RRI with other expressways and arterials which carries traffic from Phase I across to Phase II. The City’s population along with its traffic is ever on the increase. All succeeding FCT Administrations were responsible for the continuations of the road projects in order to ensure their completions as a solution to arresting existing or future traffic bottlenecks across the City.
Similarly, provisions were also made for Mass Transit Railway System and the railway corridor is clearly defined in the City land use map. This include the National Railway (NR) and Commuter Rail (CR), and where the NR and CR will be on the same track. Until the actual implementation commence, it will seem as if the reserved corridors were vacant lands. They are always being encroached by illegal developers. Particularly, mass illegal housing estate fraudsters. They are constantly being removed, yet, the challenges continue.
A particular plot located in the Central Area District earmarked for the Railway transportation corridor is now fenced, obviously, allocated by the Wike Administration for commercial activities. Since the commencement of the City development all the previous administrations never contemplated tempering with this land for strategic reasons and the importance of its function. The URP Department of FCDA is the custodian of Abuja Master Plan. The director advised against that atrocious decision, but he was unceremoniously removed by Wike.
Land use violations involving the road and rail corridors should never be contemplated by any FCT Administration, because they never last. Above were only few among the enforcements to reverse similar damages by previous administrations in the past. Even Government institutions were never spared. The ultimate goal is seamless traffic for the benefit of all citizens and the wellbeing of the City as the Federal Capital City of Nigeria. It is a matter of National interest which is above any individual, no matter how high.
The pains of losing valuable resources upon the revocation or rather demolition of such developments if eventually built, will obviously be on the businessmen lured to buy the land. The multiple billions paid to the fraudsters superintending as owners due to abuse of powers and official responsibilities can never be salvaged. Those being deceived should better shine their eyes.
Concluded.
