The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday revoked titles of plots of land belonging to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, former governors of Kaduna, Zamfara and Plateau states, Mohammed Makarfi, Ahmed Yerima, and Joshua Dariye respectively and other prominent Nigerians.
The revocation, according to FEC, was in public interest.
The revocation came barely 24 hours after FEC reverted the decision of the last administration creating two more ports independent of the Nigerian Ports Authority.
Addressing correspondents after the FEC meeting, the Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. John Odey, stated that the land, 38 in all, in high brow Asokoro, which were meant to serve as green areas, were given to those Nigerians without solicitation or application by the beneficiaries.
Odey said: “Council today ratified the approval given by Mr. President for the revocation of the titles over plots within the vicinity of the Pendan Dam located behind the Aso Villa for overriding public interests.
“Council decided that the 38 plots cancelled, which included the plot for Mr. President himself, which he acquired when he was a governor, is reverted to its original use which is supposed to be reserved as a green area.”
The FCT Minister of State, John Akpanudoehe, who attended the briefing, said President Yar�Adua�s action was due to his desire to ensure that the Abuja master plan was not distorted and in strict adherence to the rule of law.
According to the minister of state, the lands were not applied for, but were given to the former governors and other Nigerians by the last administration.
“Mr. President was given the plot. Not that he requested for it when he was the governor. The FCT administration then distributed the plots to the former governors and some personalities in the society.
“The important thing is that at least the President who you know is a law-abiding citizen and promoter of the rule of law, in sticking to the principle of the rule of law and in keeping faith with the master plan that those designated as green areas be retained as green areas,� he said.
Other decisions taken by FEC included the restoration of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPC) to its original position.
By this action, the decision by the last administration creating the Western Ports and Harbours Authority and the Nigerian Delta Ports was also reversed.
The Minister of Trans-portation, Mrs. Diezani Alison Maduekwe, disclosed that the decision was sequel to the law setting up the NPA and in response to the questions and concerns of the House of Repres-entatives.
According to her, “Council today has approved that the Nigerian Ports Authority reverts to its status quo situation as a single autonomous authority in line with the Nigerian Ports authority Act of 1954 as amended in 1999.
This will mean therefore by implication that the two new ports that were created in May, this year, the Western Ports and Harbours Authority and the Nigerian Delta Ports will hereby be dissolved and the NPA will revert to the status quo as directed by the Ministry of Justice and also as observed by the House of Representatives.”
The council also approved contracts worth N371 million for the construction of classrooms and administrative blocks for Maitama Secondary School, Abuja and renovation of primary schools in Kuje area council of the FCT.
Nov92007