OSAS EMMANUEL
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, yesterday directed the immediate payment of N825 million in compensation to the affected land owners proposed for the second runway for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Wike gave the directive yesterday while meeting with the Minister and officials of Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development as well as Abuja indigenes to resolve all issues delaying the take-off of Abuja’s second runway project.
The Federal Executive Council FEC had in March 2022 approved the second runway, with the project broken into four components. The project was also meant for commissioning by June of 2023.
However, the protest by residents of Jiwa Community which host the runway over their eviction from ancestral land without adequate compensation stalled the commencement of the project.
Announcing the resolutions at the end of the stakeholder meeting, Nyesom Wike said “I want to identify myself with the community, If there is anything I can do to make you happy, I will make it alone.
“We have been able to resolve amicably with the community, and contractors will now move to the site.
“The FCT through the Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA will release the money approved for compensation and settlement of those who are there. The total value is N825.82 million for the compensation and resettlement.
“As part of the incentives to the community, 12 immediate employment from the Ministry of Aviation and its agencies as the case maybe, and 10 from the Federal Capital Territory Administration for the Jiwa community.
“We are going to construct Tunga Madaki Bridge, which we will put in the 2024 budget, with a 5km road. We are going to provide a modern healthcare facility for the community.
“The Permanent Secretaries from the Ministry of Aviation and that of the FCTA, His Royal Highness (the Sarkin Jiwa), AMAC Chairman, and the Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission (FCT) will sign the agreement reached between government and Jiwa Community, and if that is done today, by tomorrow or next, the moment the money gets to them, the contractors will no longer delay, as they have to move to the site immediately and commence work. So, the second runway has come to stay.
“I know how you are feeling. I am from a community where government has taken virtually all our land for development. So, if there is anything that should be done to make you happy, I will carry it on my head. But the truth remains that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. If the Aviation ministry them had concerned themselves with the runway project alone, we wouldn’t have found ourselves here but they came to usurp the job of the FCTA.
“We have only one runway. How would you feel if something happens to that runway tomorrow? It means there will be no flights. In a city as big and cosmopolitan as Abuja?”, He queried.
Executive Secretary of FCDA, Shehu Hadi had earlier clarified that the FCTA has no business offering compensation to occupants of land, having issued the land to a third party.
According to him, it is the duty of anyone who is offered land to compensate the occupants of that land.
Traditional Ruler of the area, the Sarkin Jiwa, Alhaji Idris Musa had explained the frustration of his people, saying he has for months had sleepless nights because of the back and forth in respect of compensation.
“We sat with the Aviation and FCT Administration. Aviation has a consultant in respect of the compensation but it was the consultant who sat with us and the FCTA was an observer. In certain terms, we have agreed with the consultant that they will pay N2.5m per hectare.
“So, at last, the administration said the Aviation had no right to do that, that it is the FCTA that should do it. Then each hectare came to less than N700,000.
“The community wrote to the FCT Public Complaints Commission, and up till yesterday, we were holding meetings in my palace to see that this issue is resolved in the overriding public interest.”
He urged the Aviation Ministry and the FCTA to scale up the amount of compensation from less than N700,000 so that the people can acquire other lands.
