Photo Caption
FCT Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike (middle) flanked by the Ag. ES, FCDA, Engr. Richard Dauda (left) and Director Development Control, TPL, Mukhrar Galadima (right) at Gishiri village during an inspection of obstructions to construction of the arterial road N16 in Abuja on Tuesday
By Ignatius Ushie
The Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has urged Abuja residents to support developmental efforts of government. He stated this while supervising the demolition of structures obstructing the construction of the Arterial Road N16 in Gishiri village in Katampe District, Abuja.
According to a statement made available to Transport Day in Abuja, the Minister disclosed that the residents were duly served with eviction notices and clearly communicated the necessity of their cooperation with the government.
He said this was vital for the contractor, Messrs CGC, to complete the road project and hand it over by the end of May, adding that he however regretted that the residents rejected government’s offer of compensation and pledge to facilitate their relocation, despite being granted one-week extension as requested by the village chief, thereby impeding work on the road project.
According to him, “the road project was in the public’s overriding interest and not a case of acquiring land for private development, warning that the FCT Administration would not tolerate the sabotage of projects of public interest”.
He said he was personally involved in the demolition exercise to send a message that it would no longer be business as usual.
According to the FCT Minister, “We served them with the eviction notice and we told them the need for them to cooperate with the government so that the contractor, CGC will be able to complete this road and then hand it over by May ending”.
Speaking further, the Minister said, “The traditional ruler of course pleaded with us to give them one week. The money for compensation has been made available and we did also promise that in spite of that, we will still make available somewhere they can relocate.
“But with all these assurances, it did appear, from what I got in the report, that work is not going on. I informed the traditional ruler that this work has to go on and enough is enough. No government will fold its arms and allow people to sabotage a project for the interest of the public. It’s not as if anybody is coming to acquire land to build houses”.
