Wike refuses to back down on demolitions amid pressure from CSOs

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Sunday, declared he would not be swayed by blackmail from civil society organizations and activists on the ongoing demolition exercise in Abuja.

Wike stated this during a visit to the demolished Ruga settlement in Abuja.

After a security council meeting on Sunday, he was accompanied on the trip by heads of security agencies in the FCT.

The minister said: “I must also say that no amount of blackmail, intimidation, or abuses; we must go around to do our jobs.

“It doesn’t matter who they go and hire, they call them civil society or not civil society, we are not interested in that. Our interest is to protect lives and property, to safeguard Abuja so that it will be one of the best cities in the world.”

Wike spoke after the settlers joined by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and social media activist, Vincent Martins Otse aka Very Dark Man, protested the demolition carried out by the Department of Development Control.

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The minister warned residents not to rebuild structures in the area until the government decides on a course of action.

He also announced plans to demolish other shanties across the city and convert them into new bus terminals for orderliness.

“As far as this road is concerned, we have told them nobody is going to build anything, whether temporary or permanent.

“We will not allow them until the government has made a final decision on what to do on this piece of land,” Wike stated.

He directed five representatives of the residents to meet with security agencies and the Land and Development Control directors to provide recommendations on the way forward.

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