Abuja – The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has called for a review of the laws of the territory to meet the present reality of the growth and development of Abuja.
Bello made the call when the acting Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Mr Kefas Magaji, paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, most of the laws in the Federal Capital Territory have become obsolete, thereby making the running of the Abuja city centre very difficult.
The minister said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) needed the review of these laws to make it more stringent to enable it effectively cope with influx of people into the territory.
“When the laws are more stringent, offenders are made to face the consequences of their actions or inactions thereby serving as deterrent,’’ the minister said.
Bello frowned at a situation where law breakers in the FCT were sometimes given N2,000 option of fine which could easily be paid on the spot.
He said that the development and growth of Abuja ought to be matched with vibrant laws that were stringent enough to deter offenders.
“The penalty in FCT laws are not in tandem with the reality of our time and therefore not serving as deterrent as it is supposed to be,” he said.
The minister said that the FCT laws ought to be reviewed to help, guide and assist city managers.
According to him, Abuja is the only city in the federation that is a product of law and should be well guided by the law to function well.
Bello commended the commission for its efforts in supporting the FCTA values, adding that the FCTA would equally support any institution that added value to the well-being of the society.
Earlier, Magaji said every law needed to be reviewed every 10 years to conform to the present reality.
According to him, there is no way the society will move forward when the laws are still retrogressive.
He recalled that the commission last reviewed the FCT laws in 2006 and that such laws were due for further re-evaluation to conform to the time. (NAN)