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Senate President, Godswill Akpabio
The Senate has resolved to investigate the recent demolitions in the Federal Capital Territory and has set up an investigative committee to investigate the matter.
The resolution was made after a motion was moved during Thursday’s plenary by Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing FCT Senatorial District, who called the attention of the Senate to the matter.
She also expressed concern over the alleged illegal demolition of structures in the nation’s capital and called for an immediate stop to further demolitions, including estates already marked.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) seconded the motion, saying the exercise should be stopped pending the outcome of the Senate investigation into the matter.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Godwswill Akpabio, said the Senate cannot outrightly prevent the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, from demolishing structures in the nation’s capital.
Akpabio, however, explained that all demolitions could not be stopped because the courts ordered some.
He said, “The minister would continue with the demolition of structures ordered by the courts in order not to be culpable of disobeying court orders.”
The Senate resolved to set up an investigative committee to look into the demolitions and report back to it within a specified timeframe.
The Red Chamber also asked the committee to invite Wike to appear before it to explain the reasons behind the demolitions, which have left many residents without homes.
It also resolved that all structures marked for demolition in the FCT, not ordered by the courts, should not be tampered with until its committee interfaces with the FCT minister and reports back to the committee of the whole for further actions.
PUNCH Online reports that Wike has been criticised for embarking on widespread demolition of houses in Abuja.
A construction company, Paullosa Nigeria Limited, had recently raised the alarm over a demolition notice issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority to demolish its estate in the Lifecamp area of Abuja.
The General Manager of the Estate, Vincent Enoghase, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, claimed that the FCDA had demanded N10 million for a Right of Occupancy, which it had paid but was yet to receive before the issuance of the quit notice.
