L-R: Philip Aduda, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Magnus Abe and Ag ES, FCDA, Richard Dauda during the inspection of renovation works at the International Conference centre Abuja on Wednesday
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed deep concern over attempts by indigenous inhabitants to sabotage government development efforts in Abuja due to compensation and relocation issues.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Press, Anthony Ogunleye, Wike, during a media chat on Thursday, 13 March 2025, emphasised that compensations had been paid years ago and relocation processes are ongoing.
‘Compensations have been made several years ago,’ Wike stated. ‘For example, where I live near Kpaduma in Asokoro, compensation was given to them more than 20 years ago. But the government has not been able to move them out. They’ve come back to say they want compensation. But compensation has been paid years ago.’
Wike noted that the FCT Administration has doubled compensation amounts in some cases but will only pay what is appropriate. He also clarified that alternative housing will only be provided when entire communities are relocated, not for individual houses removed for road projects. ‘The point we are making is, if we are coming to a community to say let the entire community relocate, then you talk about building houses for them, not a road corridor where 20 houses are affected,’ he added.
Meanwhile, the minister undertook an extensive inspection tour of some major infrastructure projects on Wednesday, 12 March 2025, slated for commissioning in May to coincide with the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The projects include the construction of the 15-kilometre Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) from Ring Road 1 (RR1) to Wasa Junction, the Life Camp to Karmo dual carriageway, and the comprehensive renovation of the International Conference Centre (ICC).
At the end of the tour, the minister expressed profound satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the projects. He conveyed confidence in the contractors’ ability to deliver high-quality work within the agreed timelines. ‘I can tell you I’m very pleased with the quality of work going on by the contractors … the contractors are very reputable—Julius Berger, CGC, and others. So, I’m very happy with what we have seen,’ the minister stated.
Regarding the ongoing renovation of the ICC, the minister recalled the vision behind its establishment, as recently highlighted by former President General Ibrahim Babangida in his memoirs, noting that the aim of constructing the ICC was to create a world-class venue for international conferences and meetings. He lamented its deterioration under private concession.
However, the minister expressed delight at the significant progress now being made in its rehabilitation.
‘This is at the cost of N39 billion that we are spending, and all the materials are on the ground. So, I can say that they are 70 per cent complete, and they have assured us that they will complete it and hand it over by May,’ he said.
The minister emphasised that the ICC, upon completion, will be a source of national pride. He also used the opportunity to call for the continued support of FCT residents, including traditional rulers and youths, for the government’s efforts to deliver impactful projects. ‘We are not here to bring hardship on anybody but to improve our lives. I know how difficult it is, but again, everybody has to make sacrifices.
We are pleading with residents to cooperate with the various contractors that are building road projects so that we can have them completed on time. When the rains come now, it will be a problem, and they will begin to say it’s because of the rainy season. Now that we have good weather, let them utilise it for the benefit of the public. So, I still implore the traditional rulers, youths, chiefs—everybody—to support what we are doing,’ he said.
Speaking on efforts to improve public transportation in the FCT, Wike announced plans to ‘partner with the private sector to provide a safe and efficient transportation system in the FCT’, and highlighted the construction of bus terminals in various parts of Abuja as part of ongoing efforts.
‘One of the reasons why we are building bus terminals is to have a new strategy for public transportation. So, we are going to partner with some private persons who are committed to public transportation. All we are doing is providing infrastructure to enable the private sector to participate effectively,’ he said.
Regarding youth empowerment, Wike expressed disappointment at the attitude of youths towards government empowerment programmes. The FCT minister said he was ‘reliably informed that the vehicles procured for youth empowerment in the FCT have been sold off by the beneficiaries, as against the original purpose’.
He said, ‘You remember we tried to empower the youths by giving them vehicles. I tell people, all these theories about youth empowerment—nobody has asked, are the youths willing to work? It’s not about the government bringing policies to help you.
‘We bought vehicles—have you seen any of the vehicles on the road? They’ve sold them. We are trying to empower you to own a business, and you are sabotaging it.’
The minister, however, expressed confidence that his recent investment-driven trip to Italy, where he interacted with the Lombardy Regional President, Attilio Fontana, alongside key agribusiness and vocational education investors, will provide further opportunities for youths to be trained and become meaningfully engaged.
He said, ‘I’m very happy that it’s one of the trips that yielded results. The Mandate Secretary of Education and the Mandate Secretary of Agriculture were part of the delegation, so they are working on the details now with the officials of Lombardy. I feel so happy that our youths will now have several areas where they can be trained and then try to be self-employed. I believe in the next one week, they will have finished all the documentation, and then we will be able to send the first set of our youths to Lombardy for training.’
Giving insight into planned engagements in the FCT for the 29 May celebration, the minister assured that key projects in both the city center and satellite towns have been scheduled for commissioning to commemorate the event.
