By Ekunkonye Junior
The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has taken a significant step towards resolving the long-standing issues of land disputes, house ownership conflicts, and demolitions in its communities.
The Executive Chairman of AMAC, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has inaugurated a 32-member Fact-Finding Committee to investigate and address these challenges.
The committee, comprising legal experts, town planners, community leaders, and media representatives, has been tasked with reviewing the legality and procedure of past and proposed demolitions, investigating multiple allocations and conflicting ownership claims, and documenting the rights of indigenous communities regarding their ancestral lands.
This was contained in a press release from Hon Madaki Kinsley, the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Executive Chairman on Wednesday.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Hon. Maikalangu emphasized the need for lasting solutions to these disputes, which have hindered peaceful community development. “For too long, the cries of our residents regarding property rights have gone unanswered or been addressed with temporary measures,” he stated.
“This committee’s mandate is non-negotiable: to go to the root of these conflicts, identify illegal transactions, and establish a clear path to rightful ownership.”
The committee’s chairman, the Council Secretary, pledged to discharge their duties with integrity, impartiality, and diligence.
“We are acutely aware of the gravity and sensitivity of our mandate,” he stated.
“The issues surrounding land disputes, house ownership conflicts, and demolitions have plagued our communities for too long, eroding public confidence and hindering genuine development.”
The committee is expected to propose phased strategies for resolving these issues and establish a clear, lawful, and equitable framework for land management in AMAC.
The Senior Special Assistant on Community Development to the Executive Chairman AMAC, Hon Shitu Usman Chidawa, described the committee as “one of its kind in the history of FCT” and pledged to begin work immediately.
The inauguration of the committee has been welcomed by residents of AMAC, who hope that it will bring an end to the chaos and uncertainty surrounding land ownership and development in the area.
The committee’s findings and recommendations are expected to be presented to the AMAC administration, which will then take steps to implement them.
The move is seen as a significant step towards improving the lives of AMAC residents and promoting peaceful development in the area. As Hon. Maikalangu stated, “We must end the era where innocent citizens lose their lifetime investments due to impunity and land-grabbing.”
The committee’s work is expected to be a crucial step towards achieving this goal, and residents are eagerly awaiting the outcome of their investigations.
