By Henry Umoru

MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed said last week that the Administration approved a total of 69 building plans within an interval of 12 days

According to the Minister, the move was to  drastically reduce housing deficit in the Federal Capital Territory in line  with the Federal government’s transformation agenda. The Minister who disclosed this after meeting with some senior staff of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, said his Administration deliberately improved on the approval time frame of building plans in the Federal Capital Territory to further tackle the springing up of illegal structures in and around 250 square kilometers of the Federal Capital City, Abuja.

The 69 approvals given were part of a total 148 building plans submitted within the period 12 days (September 12-24, 2014).

According to him, a total of 73 setting out/stage approvals were also given by the FCT Development Control Department within the same period under review.

Senator Mohammed further disclosed that in order to improve service delivery to the residents of the Territory, the FCT Administration intends to establish a Physical Document Management Office under the FCT Development Control Department for the automation and tracking of mails/complaints.

He said his Administration would do everything possible to ease service delivery to the resident of FCT.

The Minister also revealed that his Administration was  looking at the possibility of imbibing the ideals of Green Building,  noting that the FCT Administration may sponsor some professional staff of the FCT Development Control to attend the Annual Green Building Convention organized by the United States Green Building Council in New Orleans, USA.