The funding pattern of the land swap project is designed in a way to ensure that projects would be completed on schedule One of the beauties of the land swap programme is the dynamic financial solution it offers to all the stakeholders – the government, the subscribers and the investors. The structure of the total…
Land Swap Is a Great Ingenuity
She is a Lagos-born lawyer and Special Assistant, Legal and Multilaterals to the FCT Minister. In this interview with Anayochukwu Agbo, general editor; Chinenye Eseke, reporter and Adewale Adelola, senior photographer, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, discusses the legal and policy aspects of the land swap initiative in Abuja As the SA Legal and Multilaterals to the…
‘The Law Protects Investors and the FCT’
Ima Okpongete, general counsel and secretary, legal, Federal Capital Territory Administration speaks to Anayochukwu Agbo, general editor; Tajudeen Suleiman, senior associate editor; Chinenye Eseke, reporter and Adewale Adelola, senior photojournalist. Excerpts: What is the legal framework for the land swap policy? The landswap policy is a development strategy initiated by the Senator Bala Mohammed administration…
How the Law Protects Investors
A robust legal support has increased the investors’ confidence in the land swap projects The high level of confidence investors have in the successful implementation of the land swap policy predicates on a robust and competent legal framework that guarantees the interests and expectations of all stakeholders – government, investors and subscribers. Under Section 5…
‘The Idea Is for Mr President to Leave Legacies’
Bala Mohammed, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, discusses his ambitious land swap projects, other signature projects, security and governance in the territory in this interview with Anayochukwu Agbo, general editor, and Tajudeen Suleiman, senior associate editor. He says what drives him is for President Goodluck Jonathan to leave legacies. Excerpts: Congratulations on the…
A Marketer of Distinction
It is either he has always had it or that being thrown into the ring as minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, transformed Senator Bala Mohammed into a consummate marketer. A few years ago, Akpan Ekpo, professor of economics and director-general of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, WAIFEM, advised that…
The Land Swap Districts
For the trial run of the Land Swap Initiative, the FCT chose Phase IV (South), a Greenfield district, where no allocation of land has been made. This choice is deliberate; it is the only phase in the original Abuja master plan that is undeveloped. The only technical document on the phase at the inception of…
The New Vision
In the face of dwindling federal allocation and increasing infrastructure deficit, the federal capital administration formulated the land swap policy to leverage on private funding to develop the capital city When Bala Mohammed assumed office as Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister in April 6, 2010, what he met on ground was daunting. “I…
Basic Terms of Relationship
To ensure that its objectives in the land swap policy are realised and also guarantee investors’ confidence and buy-in, the FCTA through the Abuja Infrastructure Investment Centre, AIIC, set out 11 strict guidelines for participation in the policy. These guidelines ensure that all apprehension about bureaucracy by the investors are taken care of to…
Jonathan’s Report Card
President Goodluck Jonathan posts an impressive report card despite challenges as Nigeria marks 54th independence anniversary For the fourth consecutive year, Nigeria marked her independence anniversary inside the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with a ceremonial change of guards which saw the 177 battalion of the Nigerian Army take over guard duties for the…