Wike Orders Demolition Of Abuja Community For Presidential Fleet
The FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the demolition of Nuwalege Community
The Nigerian Air Force has requested that more than 200 homes in the Nuwalege neighborhood along Airport Road be demolished to make room for the Presidential Fleet Plot.
The Nigerian Air Force's authority wrote to Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, expressing their desire to have this village removed as it is a part of the presidential fleet plots.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Department of Development Control has been instructed by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT, to make sure that a portion of the Nuwalege community, which is situated along the Abuja Airport access road, is removed in order to make way for the construction of the presidential fleet plot.
Tpl Mukhtar Galadima, the director of the FCT Department of Development Control, revealed this information during a Tuesday community and citizen engagement event. He stated that the Minister had explained that the Nigerian Air Force's (NAF) request had led to the decision that the community had to make way for development.
He claimed that the village was part of the presidential fleet plots, and as such, the Nigerian Forces authorities had written to the minister about a month ago expressing their need and desire to have it removed.
“So, the minister in his wisdom requested them to allow the FCT Administration to handle it, because it is the responsibility of FCT Administration. The Nigerian Air Force approached the Department of Development Control on their desire.
“So, as part of our responsibility, we have to do what you call a community and citizens engagement which is why we are here today to discuss with the community and to tell them of our intention, because it will be unfair to just bring the machine here and start removing their houses.
“So, we visited the chiefs at his palace to meet him and we told him our reason for coming to this place today,” he said.
Galadima stated that roughly 150 to 200 houses with additional commercial stores attached to the houses will be removed when discussing the number of houses that will be demolished.
He stated that they would talk with the Nigeria Air Force about the matter of compensation for the impacted natives because there were hints that it had been given.
Speaking about the village chief's expectations, the director of FCT Development Control stated, “But, we have to be certain that this compensation actually was paid, and also who was really given this compensation. We are going to conduct further investigation Q between FCT Administration, that is the Department of Resettlement and Compensation, as well as the Nigerian Air Force and find out if compensation has been paid, to who and when?
“Then, we will discuss with our colleagues at the Department of Resettlement and Compensation whether at any point in time, there was any compensation that ascertain their claims as regard to the number of structures and people that are going to be affected by this expansion project,” Galadima explained.
He went on to say that because some of the settlements contain underworld dwellers, there are some issues that need to be looked into, including security.
“And looking at this, Air Force formation, which is the presidential fleet, is too close for this thing to co-habit. So we will see if there is that urgent desire to remove part of this community, we will do it.
“So, we have to do some community engagement. It is not the entire community because we have gone around and we have seen the areas affected by the presidential fleet plot and the areas that are outside that plot,” he Q added.
Speaking about the village chief's expectations, the director of FCT Development Control stated, “At least, we have given him the respect as a high class person. We have discussed and informed him why we are here and we are coming back again for a wider consultation involving the Nigerian Air Force, our colleagues, and then the community heads. So, I think we have done the needful by engaging them adequately."
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