The Federal Capital Development Authority has revoked the plots granted to the embassies of Ghana, Thailand and Malaysia for obstructing the construction of a major highway in the nation’s capital.
The Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Shehu Ahmad, confirmed the development while briefing the media on the efforts of the FCDA management to provide critical national infrastructure, over the weekend.
According to him, the affected plots, domiciled in the Diplomatic section of Abuja, were marked for a replacement many years ago, to allow the construction of Ring Road One interchange on the arterial Inner Southern Expressway.
Ahmad said replacement plots were offered at some of the new layouts, which the authority was developing at Guzape ll, to assuage the embassies affected by the major infrastructural project.
He noted, that the issues had been resolved at the diplomatic level, with the affected missions accepting the offer of replacement plots, to pave way for the construction of an interchange on that section of the road.
“We had some challenges with diplomatic plots. At Ring Road One, we were supposed to have an interchange there, but we had challenges there due to diplomatic plots.
“When you have an issue with an embassy, it is like having an issue with the government of that nation. There were a lot of diplomatic moves made to ensure the resolution, but we have got replacement plots and they have indicated readiness to accept this, and we will soon develop our interchange there,” Ahmad said.
ISEX, otherwise known as the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Expressway, is a strategic carriageway, traversing Galadimawa and Games Village in Abuja.
The expressway runs through Area 1, Area 2, the National Christian Centre, the Headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Police Headquarters down to the Villa Bridge, before terminating at AYA Bridge, as Inner Northern Expressway.
It was also learnt that the first phase of the project, which has been substantially developed, is being constructed by China Geo-Engineering Corporation, at the cost of N39.8 billion.
Some other projects currently being carried out by FCDA as listed by Ahmad, include the construction of a new ECOWAS Commission headquarters, the African First Ladies Peace Mission, and the construction and equipping of a 220-bed Gwarimpa District Hospital. – Punch.
