Developments experts and other relevant stakeholders have been effusive in their praises for its introduction by the Senator Bala Mohammed-led Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, describing it as the panacea to infrastructural deficit bedeviling the territory. Considering the fact that it is loaded with all the ‘’ingredients” that have the potentials of transforming any city that is suffering from infrastructural barrenness, the rain of endorsements or better still, accolades being showered on FCTA’s Land Swap policy cannot be said to be misplaced.

Confronted as it were by the huge challenge of infrastructural deficit in the FCT, Senator Mohammed in his determination to tackle the devastating effects of such a critical challenge, pulled out a joker card called the land swap programme. At a Town Hall Meeting he convened on April 26, 2013 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, the minister painstakingly explained in clear terms the necessity for the introduction of the policy, stressing that it was an uncommon determination to ‘’fast track the provision of infrastructure and to stave-off pressure on public utilities amd housing in FCT.”

So, it is not surprising that land swap has been tagged Bala’s most revolutionary, nay audacious, programme till date. And the accolades, or better still endorsements, did not take long in coming. Apart from development experts that rose in its defence immediately after it was introduced, the endorsements kept on rolling in, especially from relevant stakeholders in the territory, including top-ranking government officials.

Experts are of the opinion that it will be extremely difficult for the FCTA to afford the cost of infrastructure as envisaged by Abuja’s founding fathers without adopting revolutionary measures like the land swap policy.

Moreover, this policy is not peculiar to Nigeria alone as many developed countries of the world like France, Japan, USA, China, Germany, Egypt, India and Denmark, have adopted land-based financing techniques during periods of rapid urban development as is currently being experienced in Abuja. It is a policy that has received the endorsement of the World Bank as suitable for any country experiencing budget crisis like Nigeria.

Little wonder, it has been receiving effusive praises from all and sundry. It would be recalled that when speculations were rife that Bala was about to pull out from the Federal Executive cabinet to go and pursue his gubernatorial ambition in Bauchi State, the original inhabitants of FCT went on a spontaneous protest, calling on him to shelve his plan, principally because they wanted him to stay put as minister to nurture his pet project, the land swap policy, to fruition.

On the same page with the Abuja natives in their support for land swap are Nigerians in the Diaspora. At a recent summit in Ohio, USA, these Nigerians in Diaspora were so enamoured of the huge potentials embedded in the land swap policy that they indicated their readiness to come and invest in Nigeria, especially the FCT.

Next in line to endorse this wonderful policy is the FCT Council of Chiefs led by its Chairman, the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa when it paid a visit to the Aso Rock Villa recently. Apparently elated by the benefits derivable from the land swap policy, the Chiefs publicly gave President Jonathan and Bala a pat on their backs.  The endorsement for the policy has become so pronounced that it is currently the rave of the moment in the FCT.

The pertinent question to ask (and answer) is: What are the attributes of this policy that virtually all and sundry are falling over themselves in their quest to endorse it? The answers are not far-fetched.  One of the fundamental features of land swap is its potential to open up districts in the FCT for accelerated development. For the first time in the history of the FCT, under this policy, the natives are being given opportunity as active stakeholders in deciding the nature and model of resettlement and compensation policies to be adopted by government to address their concerns.

With this unprecedented package, a silver lining has arisen on the horizon for the original inhabitants of FCT who virtually had a raw deal in the hands of officials since the founding of Abuja 38 years ago. In a MoU signed with the investors, the issue of integration or resettlement of natives from the following communities, Azhata, Ketti, Dagaja, Anaknayita, Gofe, Kowyizihi, Burun, Takalafiya, Takushara 1, Takushara 2, Maraba 2, Anguwan Mamuda, Waru, Yiyimuttu  and Burum Gbayi, has been incorporated into the land deals with the investors under the land swap policy.

Also, under this highly innovative programme, which is expected to rake in the princely sum of N300 billion into the coffers of the FCTA, credible investors in infrastructure, including multinational companies have accepted to deploy millions of naira into integrating the natives through several mechanisms, such as integration, relocation and compensation, all of which are hinged on international best practices.

Determined to adequately protect the interests of the natives, Senator Bala at a Town Hall Meeting last year assured them that in payment of compensation, their concern would be taken care of, a promise he has been keeping with fidelity since the implementation of the policy went full blast.

Furthermore, the natives have also been given all options to enable them take good decisions on the type of resettlement plan that will be convenient for them, just as the minister also assured them that notwithstanding the policy agreed to by all stakeholders, as a responsible administration, the FCTA shall intervene from time to time where necessary to ensure that they are treated fairly and justly.

Above all, the minister in a charter of promises he unfolded equally said that the policy will ensure that the sharing formula does not exclude the communities to be affected and that the compensation policy is adequate and will meet reasonable expectations of all relevant stakeholders, including communities, investors, FCTA and the international community; enhance employment opportunities for the youth of the affected communities.

So far, both the FCTA and the investors have not failed in fulfilling the several mouth-watering promises contained in the agreement. With all these development-enhancing attributes of the land swap policy, is it any wonder that both the policy and its initiator, Bala Mohammed, have been receiving a groundswell of support nay endorsements from the people that matter in Nigeria?

Mr  Rogers Edor Ochela, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.