The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has carried out another mass demolition of houses in Abuja – this time in a community near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
SaharaReporters obtained photographs of the demolition carried out in Nuwalege village where the officials were assisted by personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to carry out the exercise.
“The Nigerian Air Force and the FCT minister have demolished our houses in Nuwalege; we are a village close to the airport. This act has rendered more than 500 people and families homeless,” a resident lamented.
SaharaReporters had in September 2023 reported that the Wike-led administration also demolished the popular Kilishi market located in the Area 1 area of Abuja.
The demolition which took place followed a notice by the Federal Capital Territory Administration. The officials had claimed that the attachment shops, other illegal constructions, and parking lots had made the roads around the complex impassable.
SaharaReporters also reported that the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, rejected the demolition exercise being carried out Wike in the capital city, Abuja, saying it was targeted principally at the poor working class.
The NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, had in an interview described the demolitions as improper, saying the workers the government ought to provide houses for but failed to do so, are now witnessing such tragedy from the Wike’s administration.
SaharaReporters had also reported that the FCDA also directed its officials to compile a list of serviced and vacant plots of land as well as abandoned buildings within their districts.
The FCDA had given the order to “all the sector monitors” asking them to submit the list of serviced and vacant plots of land within their districts, according to a memo seen by SaharaReporters.
