Senate To Wike: Stop Further Demolitions In FCT

ABUJA: THE Senate has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Mr Nyesom Wike to stop further demolition of structures in the nation’s Capital Territory.

According to the Senate, the FCTA Minister can only pull down those structures ordered for demolition by competent court of jurisdiction, pending investigation of its ad-hoc committee.

The Senate has begun investigation into the demolitions as the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill, yesterday, set up an ad-hoc committee to carry out a holistic investigation into the demolition matters and report back in two weeks.

The committee has the Deputy President of Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin as Chairman, with Senators Victor Umeh Jimoh Ibrahim(APC, Ondo South), Abdullahi Yahaya, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (PDP, Cross River), Mohammed Monguno, Oyelola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South) and Sahabi Yaú as members.

Resolutions of the Senate were sequel to a motion by Senator Ireti Kingibe, on recent demolition of structures in the FCT by the Minister.

Kingibe who noted that the Federal Capital Administration on the instruction of of the minister embarked on massive demolition of structures within the FCT, said that the demolition, according to the FCT authority, was informed by illegal structures and on non development of allocated plots of land by the FCT administration.

According to her, it was worrisome that in recent times, the demolition exercise in the FCT was no longer based on reasons adduced by the FCT administration, adding hat the current demolition in the FCT was not in line with due process of court orders to demolish.

She said that given the demolition, a cross-section of individuals had suffered untold hardships occasioned by massive demolition, which has led to a loss of properties worth billions of naira.

On his part, Senator Sunday Karimi said: “There is need to investigate this matter before giving any directive, we must hear from the minister, so we have to hear before we say stop demolition, you can’t save his head at his back we need to hear from the minister.”