Sections of the Gishiri village in Katampe District, Abuja, were demolished on Tuesday under the supervision of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). “They Will Learn Lessons From It”: Wike Promises to Take Action Against Abuja Electricity Cable Vandals “The affected structures were built along a designated road corridor, so the demolition was required after residents failed to relocate despite prior warnings,” Wike said during the exercise.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
He remembered that the FCT Administration had granted a contract to build a dual carriageway from Wole Soyinka Way to Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, via NICON Junction, with a May completion date. He said compensation had been paid and that the impacted residents had been given a another place to go. He was disappointed, although, when many locals refused to migrate and accept compensation in spite of these clauses, which caused the project to be delayed.
Wike declared, “I’ve been here more than four times.” In order for the contractor to finish the project and turn it over before May, “we have sat down with the community leaders and told them the need to cooperate with the government.” Traditional leaders had asked for an extra week to allow for relocation, he continued, but the delay continued. Despite all of these guarantees, he stated, “it does seem that work is not proceeding, and I told the traditional rulers that this work must continue.” Wike underlined that the government could not permit a small number of people to impede the construction of public infrastructure, given the project’s halt.
“No government would stand by and let people ruin a project that was intended to serve the public interest,” he said. He mentioned that he had communicated with local officials while in Milan, Italy, to let them know that he would personally supervise the destruction to guarantee compliance. “By giving the impacted individuals more than three months to act morally, the government has done what is humanly possible,” he stated. “Are we going to say that the government won’t do its job because of a few people?”
In order to determine practical possibilities for impacted residents, Wike directed the director of compensation and resettlement to consult with the community. “It is their business if they don’t want it,” he said. In response to the demolition, some irate locals threw stones at the bulldozer operators. Police officers and other security guards had to use tear gas to break up the throng and bring the peace back.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
