FCT Minister promises prompt resolution of encroachment issues on military land …Buratai reaffirms effective security coverage of FCT and country.

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has commended the Nigerian Army for its recourse to due process in its pursuit of resolution of cases of encroachments on some of its properties in the Federal Capital Territory.

Malam Bello gave this approbation when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai paid him a courtesy call in his office, on Monday, 18 December 2017.

Also at the occasion, Lt. Gen. Buratai, while fielding questions with newsmen gave assurances of security over Abuja and other parts of the country during and after the yuletide season.

The Chief of Army Staff said the essence of the visit was to solicit the intervention of the FCT Administration in the efforts of the Nigerian Army to recover and commence development of some of the land granted them upon relocation to Abuja. Some of these portions of land, he lamented, have been encroached upon by some people.

Lt. Gen. Buratai underscored that the Nigerian Army is a responsible agency that believes in due process and would not take advantage of its position to lord it over people. He therefore called on the FCT authorities to help it recover these plots of land. He praised the efforts of the FCT Administration in infrastructural development and efforts to open up the city, even in the midst of the economic challenges of the time.

The FCT Minister, used the event to laud the tremendous successes recorded by the Nigerian Army in its effort to restore peace and security in the country. He also paid tributes to the outstanding leadership qualities of the Chief of Army Staff, which he cited as being responsible for the great strides recorded by the Nigerian Army under his command.

Malam Bello said the issues of encroachment on Military land is one of the issues the present FCT Administration inherited upon assumption of office. Abuja, the Minister noted, has been acclaimed as one of the fastest growing cities in the world. This, according to him, comes with the burden of rising demographics, pressure on land and overstretching of the facilities.

Being a creation of law, Bello cited, solutions for these problems must be found within the framework of the laws and documents creating Abuja, one of which is the Master-plan. He therefore pledged to work with the relevant Military department to seek lawful and amicable resolutions of these issues.

According to him, “We inherited a lot of issues pertaining to encroachments on Military land. We are going to work with your office to harmonize what your requirements are: for offices, barracks, technical manoeuvre, security logistics, post service estate among others.