The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to continue the demolition of illegal structures and shanties deemed a security threat in Abuja, undeterred by protests and allegations of ancestral ownership by affected residents.
On November 5, residents of Ruga, a settlement along Abuja’s airport road, took to the streets to protest the demolition.
The demonstration was led by activist Martins Vincent Otse (also known as VeryDarkMan) and Deji Adeyanju, a lawyer and rights advocate.
Protesters called for Wike’s removal and claimed ancestral rights to the demolished areas.
During an inspection of the ongoing demolition in Ruga on Sunday, Wike expressed frustration that the area had been cleared 22 times but continued to be reoccupied.
“Be assured that we will continue with the demolition of shanties that pose a security threat to FCT, Abuja,” Wike stated.
“It doesn’t matter what colouration; whatever name anybody wants to give to it, we will do the right thing and nothing will stop us.”
Wike warned against any rebuilding efforts in the area, citing the importance of maintaining Abuja’s master plan and the FCT administration’s responsibility to safeguard residents.
“This is where you have the rail line; this is a buffer zone, and if we allow these kinds of people to live here, what it means is that anything can happen to our train,” he explained.
“Nobody will take that risk. You can imagine the number of persons living here whom we cannot identify.”
The minister called on Abba Gara, spokesperson for the affected community, to select five representatives for a meeting with government officials on Tuesday.
The goal of the meeting, Wike said, is to seek a peaceful resolution regarding the future of the land and the displaced residents.
Wike also announced plans to repurpose some demolished areas as bus terminals to better serve the city’s transportation needs.
