The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has promised to continue the demolition of properties in the nation’s seat of power, stating that he will not be subject to threats.
According to him, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) is demolishing structures that were built unlawfully on government land.
“Let me use this opportunity to tell Nigerians and residents of Abuja, we are not afraid of blackmailing,” the minister said during the distribution of operational vehicles to security agencies at the FCTA Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, November 12
“In fact, you cannot be in this kind of position and say you cannot be blackmailed particularly as regards this Abuja. There are so many land grabbers. Some of us have come to put our feet down. Let heaven fall. It is even better that heaven comes down now so that we would not be fasting again to go to heaven.”
The FCTA has recently accelerated its demolition of what it considers unauthorized structures in Abuja’s estates and shanties.
The action has sparked outrage and protests, but Wike has stated that there is no turning back and has threatened to target more unlawfully constructed buildings and shanties.
“We would stop anybody who thinks they will take government land for whatever reason without formal approval. We would not look at your face. If you like be a civil rights activist or a television personality,”
“What is wrong is wrong; no amount of blackmail can stop us. People take government property without approval or documentation.”
Wike’s remark came on Thursday, the same day that the Senate ordered a review into the FCT demolitions, forming a committee to investigate the situation.