Reps will probe demolition of Abuja community, says lawmaker

Micah Jiba, a lawmaker from the federal capital territory (FCT), says the house of representatives will probe the demolition of Akpanjiya, a community in Apo district of the nation’s capital.

On Saturday, officials of the federal capital territory administration (FCTA) oversaw the demolition of over 100 houses in the community.

The demolition of the community is to pave way for the construction of a major road, FCTA officials have said.

But in a statement on Sunday, Jiba, deputy chairman, house committee on area councils and auxiliary matters, said the process of consultation with residents of the community had not  been completed.

“As a deputy chairman, house committee on FCT area councils committee and auxiliary matters, we are going to set up a panel to investigate who is at fault between the community and the FCT Administration because no criminal record has been instituted against the community and the people living there are human beings and should never be treated as animals,” the legislator said.

“These people have been rendered completely homeless, which is not supposed to be.

“This community as I am aware has never objected to the issue of resettlement and compensation, and I am aware that the process of resettlement is ongoing but it has not been completed.

“I must say that the department of resettlement and compensation should be called to order, because it is really unfortunate that we are witnessing this kind of pathetic situation in the Akpanjiya community of Abuja in a challenging period like this, when the government is fighting a pandemic that is ravaging the world.

“From what we are seeing, it shows that the department of resettlement and compensation does not know their responsibility and I am suggesting that their responsibilities should be properly defined by the FCT administration.”