N825m Compensation: FCT Natives Applaud Tinubu, Wike

The original inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have applauded President Bola Tinubu and the FCT ministers, Nyesom Wike and Dr. Mahmoud Mariya for the amicable resolution that was reached for the payment of compensation of the sum of N825m for the Jiwa community.

The FCT minister, Wike, had announced that the administration would pay the sum of N825m as compensation claims to the natives of Jiwa community who were meant to be relocated on the land that was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2022 for the commencement and development of the second runway for Nnamdi Azikwe international airport, Abuja.

The natives under the auspices of Abuja Original Inhabitant Youth Empowerment Organization (AOIYEO) who spoke through its president, Commandant Isaac David, commended the Tinubu-led government, that if the previous administrations had been up and doing like this nobody would even be talking of the rights of the indigenous people.

According to David, the payment of the compensation has signaled to them that all other issues around compensation in the city would be properly dealt with and that those other aspects of their cries; political, economic, and cultural injustice will be addressed soon.

“So, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Barr. Wike Nyesom and Dr. Mariya Mahmoud deserve our best wishes for him to continue to discharge their responsibilities to the satisfaction of the good people of Nigeria, we thank them immensely,” he said.

He also called for the establishment of the office of a special adviser on resettlement and compensation to avoid mismanagement of the compensation and to ensure proper resettlement of these inhabitants.

“The experience of the past has shown that the previous attempts on resettlement and compensation were shrouded in fraud. As a group that wants every affected indigene on this resettlement and compensation to feel the love that this government has for the people of Abuja, we are advocating for this office of special adviser on resettlement and compensation. We are very confident that the administration would not regret it if such an office is created for that purpose.

“We give our total assurances that the government would enjoy full cooperation from Indigenous people, because we duly grasp the understanding that this project is for the benefit of all, and we have started doing our best to educate them that the government needs the required cooperation to complete the project, so should be rest assured of our supports and cooperation,” he said.