Since the assumption of office of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, demolitions by the FCTA administration has been on the increase. Revocation of many land allocations has equally heightened tension, with speculations flying around and many FCT residents questioning the rationale amidst economic crunch. PAUL OKAH reports.
Right from his days as a two-term governor of Rivers state, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, showed he is a no-nonsense administrator as he trampled on toes to achieve what he believed was best for his people, including demolishing buildings of people and organisations.
Upon assumption of office as FCT minister, Wike read the riot act to FCT residents as he threatened to demolish illegal structures distorting the FCT master plan and also revoke land allocations if the owners failed to commence construction at a given time.
True to his words, Wike has ensured the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) carried out demolition of many buildings in the FCT, heightening tensions in the nation’s capital as many landlords have been agitated and wondering whose building will be next to be demolished for either building on waterways, not possessing the right allocation papers, among other issues.
Victim narrates experience
A resident, Fatima Bello, said that she was a victim of demolition in Jahi just this month as she became displaced after a demolition exercise by the FCDA.
She said: “I was staying in Jahi, where we have lived for years. However, we woke just three weeks ago to see tractors and bulldozers demolishing our houses. It was terrible because there was no warning at all. They come with policemen and even army people with guns so you can’t fight them. Though they allowed us to pick some items, but it is terrible not to have a house of your own no matter how small.
“If we can’t live in good houses, then we look for a place we can erect structures to sleep, but will still be displaced by government officials without human feelings in the name of shanties or illegal structures. The demolition of the so called illegal structures or shanties is happening on a daily basis. The people in government are without human feelings which is not good.
“You and I know the cost of living in Abuja is skyrocketing and houses are increasingly becoming unaffordable. These are places where low income earners, hawkers and petty traders live to eke out a living, instead of embracing a life of crime. If they can’t afford the high rent by greedy landlords and agents, there should be allowed to make do with what they can afford to erect as structures.
Also speaking with our reporter, a civil servant, Abdullahi Musa, said that Wike is on the right track as demolitions by FCDA is for the overall interest of FCT residents.
He said: “Those who are against demolitions in FCT are enemies of progress and evil doers. To the best of my knowledge, the FCDA has been engaging in the demolition of illegal buildings to restore the Abuja master plan and rid the city of criminals. It didn’t start with Wike. El-rufai did it and even earned a name for himself as he was synonymous with demolitions.
“Ironically, many of those who criticised him were also proud of him because of the developmental projects that his administration undertook. It is on record that many of the roads being enjoyed today by FCT residents were constructed during the el-rufai administration as FCT Minister. So, there is no evil or bad intentions of demolitions by FCTA.
“Also, if you know Wike, he’s someone who likes results, no matter whose ox is gored, Wike will go extra miles to ensure the city is rid of criminals habiting in shanties, uncompleted buildings, abandoned buildings and other places. Most of the people living in the shanties are without addresses and identification, and this could produce challenges regarding insecurity. This is why he ordered that landowners must make use of lands allocated to them or risk their being revoked.
“If you go through demolitions in FCTA, you will understand that many of them were built illegally or on waterways like in Lokogoma, TradeMoore and other places. Demolishing them is never with bad intentions, but with the good intentions of saving other residents from flood and even death. That is what every responsible government is expected to do, so Wike is doing the best for FCT residents. It’s natural for him to be criticised by those affected, but that shouldn’t discourage the FCDA from doing the right thing for the betterment of residents.”
‘Demolition should be with human face’
On his part, a social commentator, Kingsley Nnaemeka, said that prevailing economic circumstances should make demolitions have human face.
He said: “Demolitions by the FCDA is not a new thing. It happens almost on a daily basis as the administration tries to restore the Abuja masterplan. It is common sight to see bulldozers moving to different sites to pull down buildings for one infraction or the other, which is good, especially as the FCT minister is no for being a stickler to protocols. However, there is need for the FCDA and the FCT minister to carry out the demolitions with human face.
“All of us are in this country together and we know the hardship people are passing through. Except if it is a building with serious defect that could endanger human lives, there is no justification to demolition someone’s sweat because someone in the corridors of power is interested in the same property. You will see many corrupt government officials acquiring properties with illegal wealth or building houses that will only be occupied by rodents because they don’t even live in this country, whereas others are looking for just a place to sleep.
“Therefore, the FCT minister should have a human face because people are depressed, going through tough times and dying of frustration in this country. Some of the structures termed illegal are sometimes not illegal, but just because someone did not pay bribe to some officials, hence the bulldozers will move in. So, Wike and the FCDA should be considerate in their demolition activities.”
Wike should stop threatening Nigerians with demolitions, revocations in FCT-
APC chieftain
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Alex Kadiri, Tuesday, cautioned the Federal Government over wanton demolitions and revocation of properties in the FCT, saying it may have dire consequences on the polity.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, against the backdrop of constant threats by Wike to demolish and revoke properties, Kadiri, who represented Kogi East Senatorial District from 1999 to 2003 in the National Assembly, urged the APC to be cautious of its actions and inactions, saying Wike should not set Nigeria on fire with his utterances.
He said: “The issue is bothering Nigerians right now and as a senior citizen, I can’t see my country going down the hill and I do not say nothing. The way Wike, the Minister of FCT, is talking down on people is bad. That is not how we won the election. Maybe that was how he won his own election in Rivers State, but that is not how we won elections across the country. You should be civil.
“Threatening people all the time, you will revoke this, you will revoke that. Haba! That is not how to run governance. David Umahi in the Ministry of Works is working without talking. Wike is talking, but doing nothing. He’s everyday on television, ‘I will demolish, I will revoke!’ At my age, if I see things and I keep quiet, God will never forgive me.
“The other day, I watched Etsu Nupe on television talking about the demolition of the Central Mosque in Abuja. He was trying to disabuse the minds of Muslims that it is a rumour, that the Minister never said anything like that.
“He was smiling, very gentle, urbane, very civilised, but I can assure Nigerians and my party people that the next person that will discuss this issue will not smile like Yahaya Abubakar. The person will not be urbane. The country will be on fire. Wike should not start a fight he cannot finish.
“They have given you appointment, but please Nigerians are not slaves of APC. Don’t threaten anybody. Look, don’t set fire in a place you cannot quench. Etsu Nupe is an urbane man, rich in talent, civilised and experienced. The next man may not be a man like Etsu Nupe and Tinubu will have no means of quenching the fire.”
Controversy over National Mosque ‘demolition’
Expectedly, the demolition spree by the FCDA has attracted religious colouration and merchants of fake news as the FCT minister was recently accused of ordering the demolition of the National Mosque in Abuja, thereby attracting knocks from Muslims who started reading meanings into his activities as a Christian.
However, on October 18, while receiving members of the Abuja National Mosque Management Committee led by its Chairman, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Wike debunked reports that his administration was promoting policies that were against certain religious alignments.
He said, “I want to start from what I was told; that I instructed the demolition of the National Mosque. I want you to know that in politics, people will use a lot of things to fight their opponents. The Sultan of Sokoto is one person I have high regards for, I don’t just see him as an elder brother, but like a father. Anything that has to do with the National Mosque, of which he is the president, I will always give it support.
“You said Obasanjo launched the appeal fund for the support of the renovation of the National Mosque. No government will not support the management of the national monument. We have a role to ensure that worship centres are well taken care of. Those trying to whip religious sentiments are mischievously doing so to score cheap political points.
“We are not targeting any religious group or ethnicity; we are doing what we can for the good of all FCT residents and Nigerians at large. Don’t allow politicians who do not have the capacity to face me in any way to use religion as a weapon against me. As a Nigerian, I have no reason to instigate hate speech against any religious group, but to support any that has a genuine cause. The FCTA will not hesitate to support the maintenance of the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre, having been declared as national monuments. Therefore, religious leaders should preach unity and peaceful coexistence.”
