The Department of Development Control of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has begun online tracking of all ongoing building developments in the territory.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Sen. Bala Mohammed, FCT Minister, Mr Mohammed Sule in Abuja on Tuesday.

“The scheme, known as Development Control Information System (DevCIS), and Mobile App for an online transfer of Site Assessment Reports (SAR), is to ensure total computerisation of all the department’s activities,” it stated.

The statement noted that Mohammed, while inaugurating the scheme, directed that all land related departments in the FCT must work together to further reduce business time of developers.

It called for closer collaboration among Development Control; Urban and Regional Planning and Land Administration, Survey and Mapping and Abuja Geographic Information Systems.

The statement said: “This would go a long way in fast tracking development of the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the territory.

“The collaboration has become necessary to reduce friction and man hour wasted on ironing out issues related to land application, building approval and development in the FCT.’’

It called for reduction in the time taken for approval of building plans and enhance monitoring of development towards bequeathing a safe, healthy and convenient city-system to the residents of the FCT and visitors alike.

“You are equally to ensure speedy and orderly city growth into the future.”

It quoted the minister saying the establishment of indigenous Development Control Information System Mobile App for an online transfer of Site Assessment Reports, were base-line requirements for taking decisions on the approvability of building plans.

It urged staff involved in the knowledge-driven and experience-sharing process to embrace the innovation with the highest sense of responsibility for an improved service delivery, it quoted.

It stated that Mr Reuben Okoya, Co-ordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, as saying that the agency embarked on the ICT project in order to play prominent and pivotal role.

According to the statement, Okoya restated that ICT has become an essential element of infrastructure underpinning competitive economies world over.

According to it, Mr Yahaya Yusuf, FCT Director of Development Control Department, explained that the system was conceptualized to capture the records and the entire process of registering.

Others are the building plan applications, and managing and approval of same through a secure ICT driven platform.

“The Department’s Web Portal was designed to provide developers and the entire public with a platform for online submission of applications,” the ministry said, adding: “Others are online tracking of progress made on the said applications, electronic payments as well as a solution for internal operations in processing the application.”

•Photo shows Bala Mohammed.

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