The Senate and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike might be in for battle ahead over continued demolitions of people’s houses in Abuja.
The minister has been criticised harshly by some notable Nigerians for embarking on widespread demolition of houses in the nation’s seat of power.
A construction company, Paullosa Nigeria Limited, had cried out over a demolition notice issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority to demolish its estate in the Lifecamp area of Abuja.
The General Manager of the Estate, Vincent Enoghace, however, claimed that the FCDA had demanded N10 million for a Right of Occupancy, which it had paid but was yet to receive before the issuance of the quit notice.
Some social media influencers had also weighed in, accusing the minister of revoking people’s lands and awarding them to his cronies.
However, the Red Chamber has decided to investigate the recent demolitions in Abuja and has set up an investigative committee to probe the matter.
The resolution was made after a motion was moved during Thursday’s plenary by Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing FCT Senatorial District, who called the attention of the Senate to the matter.
She also condemned the alleged illegal demolition of structures in the nation’s capital and called for an immediate stop to further demolitions, including estates already marked.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) seconded the motion, saying the exercise should be stopped pending the outcome of the Senate investigation into the matter.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Godwswill Akpabio, said the Senate cannot outrightly prevent Wike from demolishing structures in the nation’s capital.
Akpabio, however, explained that all demolitions could not be halted because the courts ordered some.
The Senate resolved to set up an investigative committee to look into the demolitions and report back to it within a specified timeframe.
The Red Chamber also asked the committee to invite Wike to appear before it to explain the reasons behind the demolitions, which have left many residents without homes.
It also resolved that all structures marked for demolition in the FCT, not ordered by the courts, should not be tampered with until its committee interfaces with the FCT minister and reports back to the committee of the whole for further actions.
Meanwhile, Wike has vowed to continue demolishing properties illegally built on government lands.
Speaking during the distribution of operational vehicles to security agencies at the FCTA Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, Wike stated that he won’t be swayed by blackmail.
Wike said the structures being demolished were illegally built on government lands and gotten by land grabbers, adding that some of the structures pose security risks.
The minister insisted there was no going back and vowed to go after more illegally constructed buildings and shanties.
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