By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has threatened to sack the acting Executive Secretary of Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Richard Dauda over alleged misdeed in the ongoing compensation of those whose houses have been affected by the road construction at Gishiri village in Kàtampe District.
Few days ago, about 455 structures were demolished by officials of the FCDA to pave way for the N16 road project in the area.
The officials of FCDA had earlier estimated N655million as a compensation cost for the compensation, but the minister said due to economic situation the amount should be increased to N1.3bn.
Speaking in a meeting with stakeholders from the affected village on Monday, the youth leader, Adamu Godwin disclosed that the officials relocated them to an area that was not comfortable for humans as well as an amount that would not afford them another house or accommodation.
Godwin and some members of the delegation accused the officials over the shady deals which the ES was allegedly promoting in the compensation of the victims.
Trouble for Dauda, started when the youth leader accused him of changing the Minister’s instructions concerning their relocation.
Godwin said the ES without recourse to the Minister’s directives has proposed a water logged environment, where the victims of the demolition will not be able to build any structure.
The minister became enraged when he heard that the ES in collaboration with the department of Compensation and Rettlement was offering the victims far below what was approved.
Wike said he is annoyed hearing about the shady deals because the ES who is an indigene of Abuja has betrayed the trust reposed in him by his people and government.
The Minister warned him to retrace his steps immediately and pay the victims what he approved or get sacked.
He also warned the officials against scheming out of some residents affected in the name of non-indigene.
Wike said, “pay them what is due for them or I will sack you. You are from Abuja, why doing all these?
“All those affected should be compensated, nothing like indigene and non-indigene, I would not accept that”
However, another resident, Juliet Jonah alleged that some houses were valued at N72,000, which didn’t go down well with the victims.
