Wike condemns sabotage of FCT devt efforts over compensation

…assures legacy projects ready for Tinubu’s commissioning soon

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed deep concern over attempts by indigenous inhabitants to sabotage government development efforts in Abuja due to compensation and relocation issues.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Press, Anthony Ogunleye, Wike during a media chat, emphasised that compensations have been made years ago, and relocation processes are ongoing.

“Compensations have been made several years ago,” Wike stated. “For example, where I live near Kpaduma, in Asokoro, compensation has been given to them more than 20 years ago. But the government has not been able to move them out. They’ve come back to say they want compensation. But compensation has been paid years ago.”

Wike noted that the FCT Administration has doubled compensation amounts in some cases, but will only pay what is appropriate. He also clarified that alternative housing will only be provided when entire communities are relocated, not for individual houses removed for road projects. “The point we are making, if we are coming to a community to say let the entire community relocate, then you talk about building houses for them, not road corridor where 20 houses are affected,” he added.

Meanwhile, the minister on Wednesday undertook an extensive inspection tour of some major infrastructure projects slated for commissioning in May, to coincide with the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The projects include the construction of the 15-kilometer Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) from Ring Road 1 (RR1) to Wasa junction, the Life Camp to Karmo dual carriageway, and the comprehensive renovation of the International Conference Centre (ICC).

At the end of the tour, the Minister expressed profound satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the projects. He conveyed confidence in the contractors, to deliver high-quality jobs within the agreed timelines. “I can tell you I’m very pleased with the quality of work going on by the contractors…the contractors are very reputable, Julius Berger, CGC and others. So, I’m very happy with what we have seen,” the Minister stated.

Ongoing renovation of the ICC, the Minister recalled the vision behind its establishment, as recently highlighted by former President, General Ibrahim Babangida, in his memoirs noting that the aim of constructing the ICC was to create a world-class venue for international conferences and meetings. He lamented the deterioration of the ICC under private concession.

However, the Minister expressed delight at the significant progress now being made in its rehabilitation. “This is at the cost of N39 billion that we are spending and all the materials are on ground. So, I can say that they are 70 percent (complete) and they have assured that they will complete it and handover by May,” he said.

The Minister emphasized that the ICC, upon completion, will be a source of national pride. He also used the opportunity to call for the continued support of FCT residents, including traditional rulers and youths, for the government’s efforts to deliver impactful projects. “We are not here to bring hardship on anybody but to improve our lives. I know how difficult it is but again everybody has to make sacrifices.

“We are pleading with residents to cooperate with the various contractors that are building road projects so that we can have it completed on time. When the rains come now, it will be a problem and they will begin to say it’s because of the rainy season. Now that we have good weather, let them utilize it for the benefit of the public. So, I still implore the traditional rulers, youths, chiefs, everybody to support what we are doing,” he said.

Speaking on efforts to improve public transportation in the FCT, Wike announced plans to “partner with the private sector to provide a safe and efficient transportation system in the FCT, and highlighted the construction of bus terminals in various parts of Abuja as part of ongoing efforts.

“One of the reasons why we are doing bus terminals is to have a new strategy for public transportation. So, we are going to partner with some private persons who are committed to public transportation. All we are doing is to provide infrastructure to enable the private sector to participate effectively”, he said.

Regarding youth empowerment, Wike expressed disappointment at the attitude of youths to empowerment programmes of government. The FCT Minister said he was “reliably informed that the vehicles procured for youth empowerment in the FCT have been sold off by the beneficiaries, as against the original purpose.

He said, “You remember we tried to empower the youths by giving them vehicles. I tell people, all these theories about youth empowerment, nobody has asked, are the youths willing to work? It’s not about government bringing policies to help you.

“We bought vehicles, have you seen any of the vehicles on the road? They’ve sold them. We are trying to empower you to own a business and you are sabotaging it.”

The Minister however expressed confidence that his recent investment driven trip to Italy where he interacted with the Lombardy Regional President, Attilo Fontana, alongside key agribusiness and vocational education investors, will provide further opportunities for the youths to be trained to become meaningfully engaged.

He said, “I’m very happy that it’s one of the trips that yielded results. The Mandate Secretary of Education and Mandate Secretary of Agriculture were part of the delegation, so they are working at the details now with the officials of Lombardy. I feel so happy that our youths will now have several areas where they can be trained and then try to be self-employed. I believe in the next one week, they would have finished all the documentations and then we will be able to send the first set of our youths to Lombardy for training”.

Giving insight into planned engagements in the FCT for the May 29 celebration, the Minister assured that key projects in both the city centre and satellite towns have been scheduled for commissioning to commemorate the event.