The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Bello, has explained why the administration is enforcing the policy on parks operation in the nation’s capital.
The Minister gave this clarification when the management of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) led by its Managing Director, Mr Buki Ponle, paid a courtesy call on him on Thursday in Abuja.
Malam Bello noted that his administration decided to revert to the policy in order to ensure the attainment of 40 per cent threshold of green areas in the city.
He further disclosed that, ” The whole concept of the park policy is to make sure that these green areas within Abuja as a city and to some extent parts of the territory are left green to be able to meet the 40 per cent threshold of green areas.
The Minister who explained that the abuse on green areas had affected the ecosystem, added that government realised sometimes in the mid 2000 that it was simply impossible to maintain all the green areas.
This, he said, informed the concession of green areas to private operators to develop as parks
” A park in the real sense of a park like we see in other countries is neat, clean with sidewalks, with areas for playground for children and areas of relaxation,” he said.
The minister stated that almost 95 per cent of those who took parks under concession.
The minister revealed that the administration was getting positive feedback from residents, adding that they were appreciative for the enforcement of the policy.
Earlier, the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle had expressed the readiness of the agency to partner with the FCT administration on advocacy to educate residents to be conscious about their surroundings.
Ponle said it was the responsibility of every citizen to protect what the government had put in place.
Ponle also commended the minister for his achievements in the area of infrastructure development and provision of other basic social amenities.
He further disclosed that, ” The whole concept of the park policy is to make sure that these green areas within Abuja as a city and to some extent parts of the territory are left green to be able to meet the 40 per cent threshold of green areas.
The Minister who explained that the abuse on green areas had affected the ecosystem, added that government realized sometimes in the mid 2000 that it was simply impossible to maintain all the green areas.
This, he said, informed the concession of green areas to private operators to develop as parks
” A park in the real sense of a park like we see in other countries is neat, clean with sidewalks, with areas for playground for children and areas of relaxation,” he said.
The minister stated that almost 95 per cent of those who took parks under concession.
The minister revealed that the administration was getting positive feedback from residents, adding that they were appreciative for the enforcement of the policy.
Earlier, the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle had expressed the readiness of the agency to partner with the FCT administration on advocacy to educate residents to be conscious about their surroundings.
Ponle said it was the responsibility of every citizen to protect what the government had put in place.
Ponle also commended the minister for his achievements in the area of infrastructure development and provision of other basic social amenities.
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