The Surveyor-General of the Federation, Mr Abdulganiyu Adebomehin, says Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is fast turning into a slum.
He said this at a meeting of stakeholders organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning in Abuja on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.
“Abuja is fast turning into a slum, and you may need to talk to those in charge. If we are losing it so fast in Lagos, Abuja should not be allowed to toe that path,’’ he said.
He said that the ugly trend must be addressed, calling for a proper solution to correct the anomaly.
He said that many individuals often refused to obey the law in Abuja.
“When we go outside the country, you see us obeying the rules just to run away from fines, but as soon as we return, we disobey the with reckless abandonment.
“We have to look at the issue of compliance; who are those in charge of compliance,’’ he said.
Rep. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, chairman of the committee, said that Nigeria must plan ahead to ensure adequate infrastructure to meet up with rapid urbanisation.
“This is about the vast opportunities that Nigerian cities have for accelerated national transformation through the building of integrated and productive communities.
“We cannot maximise the opportunities for sustained transformation in our cities if the fundamentals are not addressed,” he said.
He said the urban poor and vulnerable groups in the cities required more care and attention, especially in the provision of affordable housing.
This, he said, included social amenities for improved life quality.
By Femi Ogunshola
