Senate asks Wike to halt demolitions in FCT, sets up probe panel

The Nigerian Senate has asked the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to halt demolition of properties in the FCT, pending the conclusion of investigations by its ad-hoc committee.

The resolution was reached on Thursday following a motion raised by Senator Ireti Kingibe, who expressed concerns that the demolition in the FCT has taken a dangerous dimension.

Kingibe insisted that there was need for the Senate to intervene.

Parts of Kingibe’s motion read: “Further concerned that demolition in FCT is no longer in line with due process and that a cross section of individuals have suffered untold hardship occasioned by massive demolitions which has led to a loss of properties worth billions of naira.

“Note that the Federal Capital Administration, on the instruction of the Honorable Minister of Federal Capital Territory, embarked on massive demolition of structures within the Federal Capital Territory.

“Also note that the demolition, according to the FCT authority, was informed by illegal structures and non-development of allocated plots of land by the FCT administration.

“Concerned that in recent time, the demolition exercise in the FCT is no longer based on reasons adduced by the FCT administration that necessitated the demolition. Further concerned that the current demolition in the FCT is not in line with due process of court orders to demolish.

“Also concerned that at the moment, an estate by name Merss Paulosa, for which late Colonel Paul Osang Kwanwa of Bebo, is the chairman, is currently under revocation and demolition. And from reliable information, the said plot of land was allocated to him in 1984 with the requisite title document.

“And further concerned that the owner of this estate was a patriotic Nigerian who served the nation meritoriously and one of the first intakes of the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna, with registration number 001.”

After Kingibe’s presentation, the senator representing Kogi West, Sunday Karimi, objected to the motion and urged colleagues not to stop the minister from carrying out his statutory functions.

He suggested investigation into the demolitions carried out so far.

In his remarks, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, told the senator to drop sentiments and be patriotic, stating that damage cannot be done first only to be investigated later.

Akpabio expressed concern that the government may face court action by those who were aggrieved by the demolition.

He subsequently ruled that the ongoing demolition should be halted.

An ad-hoc committee headed by Senator Jibrin Barau was constituted to investigate the demolitions.