Building Should Not Be Vacant For More Than 6 Months

The international best practice is that no building should remain vacant for more than six months.
Malam Yahaya Yusuf, former Director, Department of Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), said this in Abuja on Friday.
Yusuf spoke at a send-off party held in his honour by the staff of the department.
The ex-director said that the number of completed but unoccupied structures in the territory had become a matter of serious concern in the FCT.
He urged the department to sanction such developers.
“The international best practice is that no completed structure is expected to remain unoccupied for more than six months.
“We have submitted a proposal to that effect and we are awaiting its endorsement before we begin implementation and I urge colleagues not to relent on the proposal.
“Sanctions that will arise from that proposal will make it unprofitable for developers to allow their houses to remain unoccupied for too long.

“We do not derive joy from pulling down illegal structures but it comes as a last resort after other avenues proved ineffective.
“I tell junior colleagues to exhibit professionalism at all times in the discharge of their official duties.
“We should continue to pursue all those initiatives that make the department stand out in the area of city management and development control’’, Yusuf said.
Yusuf said various initiatives of the department were designed to make building approval faster and more effective.
Yusuf thanked staff of the department for their support over the years, advising them to adhere to regulations in performing their functions of controlling development in the FCT.
Mrs Safiya Umar, the Acting Coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), said Yusuf’s exit would create a vacuum that would be difficult to fill.
She advised other members of staff to emulate his tenacity and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
“Malam Yusuf is leaving a great vacuum and his shoes will be difficult to fill, considering the value he has added to the department.
“I urge other members of staff to emulate his dedication, tenacity and professionalism so that this vacuum will not become visible to members of the public’’, Umar said.
Yusuf joined the department in 2006, after transferring his service from Kogi State civil service. (NAN)
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