Paipe Community Demolition: FCT Natives Urge Wike To Probe Agencies, Developers

Indigenous residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to urgently intervene in the demolition of houses and structures in Paipe Community, in the Idu District of Abuja.

The natives, operating under the umbrella of the Abuja Original Inhabitant Youth Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO), accused some departments within the FCT Administration, alongside private developers, of carrying out unlawful demolitions that could undermine the minister’s developmental achievements in the territory.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the executive director of AOIYEO, Commandant Isaac David, alleged that officials of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (URP), the Lands Department, and the Development Control Department were collaborating with certain Abuja developers in ways that negatively affect indigenous communities.

According to him, the activities of some agencies within the FCT Administration have continued to create tension between the government and residents, while also damaging the image of successive FCT ministers.

“The biggest challenge facing indigenous people and residents of the FCT is that some departments are always putting every minister into problems and giving the administration a bad name because of individual personal interests,” he said.

David alleged that the ongoing demolition in Paipe Village had subjected residents to hardship despite the current administration’s efforts to improve infrastructure and governance across the capital city.

He appealed to the minister to personally investigate the activities of the affected departments and some developers operating within the FCT, insisting that urgent intervention was necessary to prevent further displacement of indigenous inhabitants.

“The minister has shown courage and determination in transforming Abuja. He has the lion’s heart to address these issues, and we are appealing to him to urgently look into the activities of these departments and some Abuja developers,” he stated.

The AOIYEO executive director particularly criticised the Development Control Department, alleging that the agency had deviated from its statutory responsibilities.

“Especially Development Control, which is now becoming a business development control. This is affecting ordinary residents and indigenous communities who are struggling to survive,” he alleged.

David warned that the actions of some officials and developers could eventually undermine the goodwill currently enjoyed by the FCT administration if left unchecked.

“We believe the minister should not allow the selfishness of some individuals to spoil the good works he is doing in the FCT. God will judge everyone one day,” he added.

As part of efforts to address the recurring disputes surrounding demolitions and land takeovers in the FCT, David proposed the establishment of a ministerial standard committee to oversee all demolition and relocation matters in the territory.

According to him, the committee should comprise representatives from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, the Lands Department, the Engineering Department, the Development Control Department, the Legal Department, the Resettlement and Compensation Department, and the Department of Community and Chieftaincy Affairs.

He also recommended that indigenous communities and organisations be adequately represented on the committee, with each of the six area councils nominating representatives to participate in the process.

“This committee should verify every procedure fulfilled by any developer before any structure is demolished. If there are buildings to be evacuated, the report from Development Control must be thoroughly examined and endorsed by all members of the committee before it is forwarded to the minister for approval,” he explained.

David further alleged that some developers use financial influence to compromise certain officials to secure demolition approvals against indigenous communities.

“So that developers will not be using money to influence the Development Control Department to demolish indigenous houses and later give the minister wrong information by calling the houses shanties and illegal structures,” he alleged.

Residents of Paipe Village also called for an immediate suspension of the demolition exercise pending proper consultations with community leaders, stakeholders and affected families.

They maintained that while they support infrastructural development and modernisation within the FCT, such projects should not come at the expense of the rights, livelihoods and welfare of indigenous people and long-time residents of affected communities.