Demolition: FCT Minister Berates FCDA Boss Over Alleged Fraud Against Gishiri Residents

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed disapproval towards the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, for allegedly attempting to defraud persons whose homes were demolished in Gishiri village of Abuja.

Approximately 455 individuals, both local residents and others from outside the community, saw their homes demolished last week as part of ongoing road construction efforts in the capital city.

Wike, who made this known while addressing key stakeholders and Gishiri community leaders on Monday, expressed displeasure over alleged dishonest conduct related to compensation for those affected by the demolition exercise.

He revealed that he had approved N1.3 billion for the compensation of the victims, but he became infuriated upon learning that the Executive Secretary of FCDA, in collaboration with the Compensation and Relocation Department, was offering significantly lower amounts than what he authorised.

The Minister criticised the Executive Secretary, a native of Abuja, for betraying the trust of his community and the government.

He issued a stern warning to Dauda to immediately reverse his decision and ensure the victims receive the approved compensation, or face termination from his position.

Tensions escalated for the Executive Secretary when Gishiri community youth leader, Umaru Godwin, accused him of disregarding the Minister’s directives regarding the victims’ relocation.

Godwin claimed that Dauda had proposed relocating the victims to a waterlogged area unsuitable for construction.

Additional accusations surfaced when a community member, Princess Juliet Jonah, highlighted that the victims were protesting the paltry compensation of N72,000 per building offered to them by the FCDA boss.