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The Senate has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to halt ongoing demolitions of structures in Abuja. Lawmakers expressed concern over the impact of the exercise on residents, urging the FCTA to explore more inclusive and humane approaches to urban development in the nation’s capital.
The Senate has insisted that Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCTA, may only demolish structures with explicit demolition orders issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. This decision, they noted, safeguards property rights as the ad-hoc committee continues its inquiry into the situation.
In response to growing concerns over the demolition exercises, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has initiated an investigative process by creating an ad-hoc committee. The group, mandated to delve into the matter in detail, has two weeks to present its report to the legislative chamber.
Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin has been appointed as the chairman of the committee, which is composed of Senators Victor Umeh, Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South), Abdullahi Yahaya, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (PDP, Cross River), Mohammed Monguno, Oyelola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South), and Sahabi Yaú.
The resolutions were adopted after Senator Ireti Kingibe moved a motion condemning the recent demolition of buildings in the Federal Capital Territory by the Minister, sparking debate on the issue.
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Kingibe who noted that the Federal Capital Administration on the instruction of of the minister embarked on massive demolition of structures within the FCT, said that the demolition, according to the FCT authority, was informed by illegal structures and on non development of allocated plots of land by the FCT administration.
According to her, it was worrisome that in recent times, the demolition exercise in the FCT was no longer based on reasons adduced by the FCT administration, adding hat the current demolition in the FCT was not in line with due process of court orders to demolish.
She said that given the demolition, a cross-section of individuals had suffered untold hardships occasioned by massive demolition, which has led to a loss of properties worth billions of naira.
On his part, Senator Sunday Karimi said: “There is need to investigate this matter before giving any directive, we must hear from the minister, so we have to hear before we say stop demolition, you can’t save his head at his back we need to hear from the minister.”
