Wike Vows to Resume FCT Demolitions Amid Senate Probe

ABUJA- The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, has promised to keep tearing down buildings that were constructed unlawfully on public property.

This comes after an investigation committee was established by the Senate to look into the recent demolitions that have occurred in the Federal Capital Territory.

The resolution was passed following a motion submitted by Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT Senatorial District, drawing the Senate's attention to the issue at Thursday's session.

She also demanded an urgent halt to additional demolitions, including those on estates that have already been identified, and voiced worry over the purportedly unlawful demolition of buildings in the nation's capital.

The minister has come under fire for starting a large-scale house demolition project in Abuja without conducting a thorough investigation or exercising due diligence.

Paullosa Nigeria Limited, a construction business, recently raised concerns over a demolition notice issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority to demolish their estate in Abuja's Lifecamp neighborhood.

The Estate's General Manager, Vincent Enoghase, told journalists in Abuja on Tuesday that the FCDA requested N10 million for a Right of Occupancy, which it had paid but had yet to receive before issuing the quit notice.

Martins Vincent Otse, a controversial social media influencer and critic known as VeryDarkMan, accused Wike of revoking the company's land titles and reallocating them to Saravera Nigeria Limited and House of Reps Majority Leader and member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency, Kingsley Chinda.

Wike claimed that he would not be persuaded by blackmail while distributing operational vehicles to security agencies at the FCTA Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.

Wike stated that the structures being demolished were illegally constructed on government grounds and obtained by land grabbers and that some of the constructions pose security hazards.