The Senate on Thursday directed the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to right away halt all ongoing property demolitions in Abuja.
This decision adopted considerations over alleged irregularities and hardships brought on by the demolitions.
As well as, the Senate summoned the minister to seem earlier than an advert hoc committee fashioned to research the demolition actions.
The committee, chaired by Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau, has been given two weeks to submit its findings.
The choice was prompted by a movement raised by Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP – FCT) throughout plenary, which was seconded by Senator Natasha Akpabio-Uduaghan (PDP – Kogi Central).
Whereas studying the decision, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, emphasised the significance of halting demolitions till correct investigations are performed.
He mentioned, “The Senate urges the Federal Capital Improvement Authority to cease additional demolitions of constructions, besides these ordered by courts of competent jurisdiction, till the advert hoc committee concludes its investigation and interfaces with the FCT administration inside the subsequent two weeks.”
In her lead debate, Senator Kingibe raised considerations concerning the demolition train, noting it usually deviated from due course of.
She argued that affected people had suffered immense losses as a result of demolitions that appeared unjustified.
She mentioned,“In latest occasions, the demolition train within the FCT was not primarily based on causes that necessitated the demolition. A cross-section of people have suffered untold hardships occasioned by huge demolition, which has led to a lack of properties value billions of naira.”
Kingibe particularly highlighted the continuing revocation and demolition of Messrs Paulosa Property, chaired by the late Colonel Paul Osakpawan Ogbebor.
In accordance with her, the land had been correctly allotted to him in 1984, with all requisite documentation.
She urged the Senate to resolve that demolitions ought to solely proceed in step with due course of and referred to as for an investigation into the matter.
Throughout the debate, Senator Karimi Sunday (APC – Kogi West) argued in opposition to halting demolitions with out first listening to from the FCT minister.
He mentioned, “We have to examine this matter earlier than giving any directive. We should hear from the minister. You can’t shave a person’s head at his again.”
Nevertheless, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (APC – Ondo Central), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Authorized Issues, disagreed.
He supported the movement to cease the demolitions, emphasising equity and the necessity to keep away from irreversible actions throughout the investigation.
“Are we saying that we must always enable the place to be demolished whereas we try to look into it? What’s honest is to say cease the state of affairs at the moment and allow us to examine,” Adegbonmire argued.
Backing Adegbonmire’s stance, Akpabio said, “If we simply say, proceed the demolition, after which we begin investigating, what are we then investigating? It’s necessary for us to make sure that demolitions are in the most effective curiosity of Nigerians and observe correct procedures.”
The Senate resolved to induce the FCT minister to halt additional demolitions and tasked the advert hoc committee to make sure an intensive investigation.
The committee includes notable senators, together with Deputy Senate Chief Senator Oyelola Ashir, Chief Whip Senator Tahir Monguno, and others, who’re anticipated to current their findings inside two weeks.
In the meantime, Wike, on Thursday, said that his administration wouldn’t be blackmailed by allegations of land grabbing within the discharge of its duties.
The minister, talking on the handover of fifty operational autos to safety businesses within the FCT on Thursday, insisted that the FCT Administration wouldn’t overlook land contraventions by anybody, regardless of who they have been.
The PUNCH reported {that a} controversial social media influencer and critic, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly often called VeryDarkMan, had accused the FCT Minister of revoking land titles belonging to Paullosa Nigeria Ltd and reallocating it to Saravera Nigeria Restricted and the Majority Chief of the Home of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda.
Wike mentioned regardless of social media critics accusing him of giving out land to his kinsman, he wouldn’t be deterred in doing what was finest for the FCT.
“Let me use this chance to inform Nigerians and residents of Abuja, that we’re not afraid of blackmail, significantly as regards this Abuja, there are such a lot of land grabbers.
“We’ll cease anyone who thinks that they will get hold of authorities land for no matter motive, with out formal approval. We won’t take a look at your face.
“For those who like, you is usually a civil rights activist. For those who like, you is usually a tv talker; what’s improper is improper.
“Individuals take authorities property with out approval, with out paperwork. And I’ve instructed folks that there was a authorities yesterday that didn’t take any steps doesn’t imply that one other authorities will come at the moment and won’t take steps.
“You’re a squatter. You inform folks to beg me, then you definately go on tv to inform folks that they got here to take your land, and also you mentioned the land was allotted to a Rivers man. So what?
“A Rivers man will not be entitled to have a land in Abuja? You inform me who’s that particular person that’s entitled to have a land in Abuja,” he mentioned.
The minister additionally warned those that owed floor rents within the FCT to pay up or threat their titles being revoked.
“All those that haven’t paid, who thought we have been joking, I’ll revoke all. I’m going to do it. You assume nothing will occur, one thing will occur.
“Go and test your data. When you have not paid, I gives you time to pay. However as soon as the time expires, I’ll revoke it, and allocate it to those that pays,” he mentioned.
Wike additionally mentioned his administration would hand over 12 new police divisions to the FCT Commissioner of Police earlier than April 2025.
The minister, who emphasised safety because the precedence of any authorities, mentioned the development of the brand new police divisions was ongoing throughout the six space councils of the FCT, in response to the request of the Commissioner of Police.
He urged the safety businesses to utilise the autos, significantly within the rural areas, to make sure the security of residents throughout and after the Yuletide.
“The Commissioner of Police requested for extra police divisions and I instructed the CP we are going to do it.
“As I converse to you now, it’s ongoing, 12 police divisions, it’s ongoing within the six space councils.
“By the grace of God, earlier than April subsequent 12 months, we consider these police divisions would have been completed and furnished, and geared up, after which we are going to hand it over to the Commissioner of Police.
“Like I mentioned final time, we should not give house. We should not enable these criminals to strike earlier than we go in. We’ve got to take the struggle to them. Allow them to know that we’re critical,” he mentioned.
Talking on the Christmas and New Yr festivities, he charged the police to not enable any hole.
“Throughout this Yuletide interval, make it possible for we don’t give them any hole. I don’t need anyone to say as a result of there was no automobile earlier than we might attain there, one thing has occurred. No,” he mentioned.
Wike additionally said that the FCT Administration had offered 50 autos for federal safety businesses in Abuja, earlier within the 12 months, making a complete of 100 operational autos, noting that no state had completed the identical inside the time-frame.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, who spoke on behalf of all safety businesses, thanked the minister for the supply and restated the dedication of the businesses to offering a protected and safe surroundings for residents.
“As we settle for these autos, we guarantee you sir that they are going to be deployed successfully and effectively to spice up our safety efforts.
“Our dedication to offering a protected and safe surroundings for all residents stays our highest precedence.
“We perceive the challenges that lie forward, and with this beneficiant contribution, we’re higher geared up to face them,” he mentioned.
He added that in collaboration with sister businesses, “we are going to utilise these assets to strengthen our response time to incidents, improve our visibility within the communities, and foster belief and cooperation between regulation enforcement and the general public.
“We recognise that safety is a shared duty, and we’re devoted to working alongside the neighborhood to create an surroundings the place everybody feels protected.”
Of the 50 autos, 25 have been allotted to the FCT command of the Nigeria Police Power; 5 every to the FCT Division of State Companies, the Nigerian Safety and Civil Protection Corps, and the Nigerian Military Guards Brigade.
Two autos every have been donated to the Abuja Naval Unit and Nigeria Air Power Camp, Abuja; whereas the remaining six have been allotted to the departments and businesses of the FCT.