…Sets up Committee to Probe Actions

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA – The Senate has directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Nyesom Wike, to immediately halt further demolition of structures in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the Senate, the FCTA minister is only permitted to demolish structures explicitly ordered for demolition by a competent court of jurisdiction, pending the conclusion of investigations by an ad-hoc committee set up by the Senate.

The Senate initiated an inquiry into the demolition activities after Senate President Godswill Akpabio constituted an ad-hoc committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation and report back within two weeks.

The committee is chaired by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) and includes Senators Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central), Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South), Abdullahi Yahaya (PDP, Kebbi North), Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (PDP, Cross River), Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North), Oyelola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South), and Sahabi Yaú (APC, Zamfara North).

The Senate’s resolutions follow a motion by Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT), who highlighted recent demolition activities carried out under the directives of the minister.

Senator Kingibe noted that the FCTA embarked on large-scale demolitions, citing reasons such as the presence of illegal structures and the non-development of allocated plots. However, she argued that recent demolition exercises appear to deviate from these justifications and fail to follow due legal processes.

She expressed concern about the resulting hardship faced by affected individuals, with losses running into billions of naira.

“In recent times, the demolition exercise in the FCT is no longer based on the reasons initially provided,” she said. “Further concern arises because the current demolitions are not in line with due process or court orders. Consequently, numerous individuals have suffered untold hardships, including loss of properties worth billions of naira.”

Senator Kingibe also cited the revocation and planned demolition of Messrs Paulosa Estate, allocated to the late Colonel Paul Osakpawan Ogbebor in 1984. She emphasized that the property has valid title documents and described the late Colonel as a patriotic Nigerian who served the nation meritoriously, being one of the first intakes of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, with registration number 001.

The Senate resolved to urge the FCTA to halt the revocation and demolition of the estate, noting it does not fall under the justification provided for ongoing demolitions.

Seconding the motion, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) stressed the need to halt further demolitions and proposed the invitation of FCTA officials to provide their perspective.

Senator Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) also emphasized the importance of hearing directly from the minister before any further directives are issued. “We must hear from the minister to understand the situation fully,” he said.

The Senate reiterated that all demolitions in the FCT must follow due process, with adherence to court orders and fairness to all affected individuals. The ad-hoc committee is expected to provide its findings within two weeks to guide further action.