The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has directed the FCT Department of Development Control to ensure that part of Nuwalege community, located along the Abuja Airport access road is removed for the development of the presidential fleet plot.
Director of FCT Department of Development Control, Tpl Mukhtar Galadima, who made this known during a community and citizens engagement at the community on Tuesday, said that the Minister explained that the decision became imperative that the community give way for development following a request from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
He said that about a month ago, the authorities of the Nigerian Air Force wrote to the minister on their need and desire to remove the village, because it is part of the presidential fleet plots.
“So, the minister in his wisdom requested them to allow the FCT Administration to handle it, because it is the responsibility of FCT Administration. The Nigerian Air Force approached the Department of Development Control on their desire.
“So, as part of our responsibility, we have to do what you call a community and citizens engagement which is why we are here today to discuss with the community and to tell them of our intention, because it will be unfair to just bring the machine here and start removing their houses.
“So, we visited the chiefs at his palace to meet him and we told him our reason for coming to this place today,” he said.
Galadima, while speaking on the number of houses that will be demolished, said that about 150 to 200 houses with additional commercial stores that are attached to the houses will be removed.
On the issue of compensation for the affected natives, he said that they would discuss with the Nigeria Air Force because there were indications that compensation had been paid.
“But, we have to be certain that this compensation actually was paid, and also who was really given this compensation. We are going to conduct further investigation between FCT Administration, that is the Department of Resettlement and Compensation, as well as the Nigerian Air Force and find out if compensation has been paid, to who and when?
“Then, we will discuss with our colleagues at the Department of Resettlement and Compensation whether at any point in time, there was any compensation that ascertain their claims as regard to the number of structures and people that are going to be affected by this expansion project,” Galadima explained.
He further said that there were certain things that they have to look into, with considerations like the security, because parts of some of the settlements harbour people of the underworld.
“And looking at this, Air Force formation, which is the presidential fleet, is too close for this thing to co-habit. So we will see if there is that urgent desire to remove part of this community, we will do it.
“So, we have to do some community engagement. It is not the entire community because we have gone around and we have seen the areas affected by the presidential fleet plot and the areas that are outside that plot,” he added.
While speaking on the expectations of the village chief, the FCT Development Control director said, “At least, we have given him the respect as a high class person. We have discussed and informed him why we are here and we are coming back again for a wider consultation involving the Nigerian Air Force, our colleagues, and then the community heads. So, I think we have done the needful by engaging them adequately.”
