As the residents of Gishiri in Katampe District of Abuja continue to groan and moan the demolition of their homes and businesses on Tuesday, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who supervised the exercise, has justified the action, saying the structures were built on a designated road corridor.
This move is part of the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s efforts to reclaim encroached plots and enforce the Abuja master plan.
The area, which has grown into a massive slum, has been a hideout for criminal elements, prompting the need for demolition.
According to the minister, the demolition became necessary due to the failure of the affected residents to relocate as directed.
Persecondnews reported on Tuesday, March 11, that over 20 buildings, comprising residential and commercial structures, were demolished, with authorities vowing to continue the exercise on Wednesday.
Wike said the FCT Administration had awarded a contract for the construction of a dual carriageway from Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, by NICON Junction to Wole Soyinka Way, which was expected to be completed in May.
He said funds for compensation had been allocated and a relocation site has been provided for the affected individuals.
The minister, however, said that the affected residents declined the offer of compensation to relocate.
“This means the job will not go on. We will not allow that. I have been here more than four times.
“We have sat down with the community leaders and told them the need to cooperate with the government so that the contractor will be able to complete the project and hand it over by May.
“The traditional leaders pleaded with us to give them one week. The money for compensation has been made available and we made available somewhere where they can relocate.
“However, with all these assurances, it does appear that work is not going on, and I informed the traditional rulers that this work has to go on,” Persecondnews quotes Wike as saying.
The minister, who emphatically declared “enough is enough”, said no government would stand idly by and permit individuals to sabotage a project designed for the public good.
He expressed disappointment with the residents’ refusal to cooperate with the government, especially since the land was being acquired for public use, and not for personal gain or private development.
Wike said: “So, I called the community leaders while away in Milan, Italy. I am going to be personally here to supervise this demolition, and that’s what I came for.
“Let them know that it is not going to be business as usual.”
Wike said the government had done everything humanly possible by giving the affected people more than three months to take necessary actions.
The minister added: “I can not fold my arms and say let the work stop. No, we will not do that. We have given them enough time.
“Are we going to say because of few people, the government will not do its work?”
On the way forward, the minister stated that the Director of Compensation and Resettlement will engage with the community to determine the most feasible solutions for the affected residents.
“If they don’t want it, it is their business.”
During an interview with Persecondnews amidst the demolition, Gishiri Youth Advocate, Mr. John Madalla Maikasuwa, disclosed that the community is yet to receive compensation for the 2023 demolition.
Bemoaning the demolition, Maikasuwa said Gishiri is their ancestral homeland, and with nowhere else to go, they are faced with an uncertain future.
“We are calling for help, we are going through a lot. We cooperated with them when they came for house numbering and capturing in 2024, afterwards they came for evaluation.
“After the evaluation they valued one bedroom flat for N100,000 – N300,000 some buildings were valued at N50,000.
“They told us they are using the compensation plan of 2013, how do you use compensation plan of 12 years ago in 2025 is the price of building materials the same? Is the price of cement in 2013 the same with 2025?.
“Considering the compensation plan If you buy a bag of cement for N3000 in 2013 and now a bag of cement in Gishiri is N9900 do you think you can even do foundation with the merger compensation been given.
“This community is under pressure, some of our parents are in the hospital due to the continuous demolition in the community. Everything we have labored for is gone, we are crying out to the whole world to come to our rescue.
“The demolition matter is in court and the court has already ruled that until the issues are settled no demolition should go on, we are shocked today to see the Minister and his team for demolition.
Wike is a lawyer and we expect him to uphold court injunctions,” Maikasuwa told Persecondnews.
Mrs. Shekwosa Sunday, whose shop was demolished, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and provide “fair and reasonable” compensation for traders and alternative shelter for those displaced.
“I am calling on President Tinubu to intervene. He is the only father we have.
He should see ways he can compensate us, the traders whose goods were destroyed, and help relocate those whose houses were destroyed,” she said.
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