Kehinde Fajobi
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has justified the recent demolition of properties in Abuja, stating they were illegally built on government lands.
Speaking during the distribution of operational vehicles to security agencies at the FCTA Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, Wike declared that blackmail would not deter him from enforcing the law.
“Let me use this opportunity to tell Nigerians and residents of Abuja, we are not afraid of blackmailing,” he said.
“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.”
Wike insisted that the demolitions targeted properties lacking proper approval or documentation, some of which posed security risks.
“We would stop anybody who thinks they will take government land for whatever reason with 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,” he added.
The demolition exercise has sparked backlash, including protests and criticism from affected residents.
On Thursday, the Senate responded by ordering an investigation into the demolitions.
The Senate’s decision followed a motion by Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the FCT, who raised concerns about the ongoing actions.
A committee, led by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, has been tasked with probing the matter and summoning Wike to explain the rationale behind the demolitions.