‘We’re not afraid of blackmail’ — Wike vows to continue demolition of ‘illegal structures’ in Abuja

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says no amount of blackmail will stop the demolition of illegal buildings in the nation’s capital.

In recent months, the federal capital development authority (FCDA) has intensified the demolition of “illegally” constructed estates and shanties in Abuja.

The minister said some of the recently demolished shanties posed threats to the security of the nation’s capital.

Speaking during the distribution of operational vehicles to security agencies at the FCTA secretariat on Thursday, Wike said the structures being demolished are properties illegally built on government lands.

He said the FCTA would not yield to any form of blackmail from any homeowner who built illegally on government lands.

“Let me use this opportunity to tell Nigerians and residents of Abuja, we are not afraid of blackmailing,” Wike said.

“In fact, you cannot be in this kind of position and say you cannot be blackmailed, particularly as regards this Abuja. There are so many land grabbers.

“Some of us have come to put our feet down. Let heaven fall. It is even better that heaven comes down now so that we would not be fasting again to go to heaven.

“We will stop anybody who thinks he can obtain government land for whatever reason without formal approval.

“We will not look at your face. If you like, you can be a civil rights activist; if you like, you can be a television talker. What is wrong is wrong.

“No amount of blackmail can stop us. People take government property without approval or documentation.”

On Wednesday, the senate asked Wike to halt the demolitions in the nation’s capital, except those that have been ordered by the court.

The red chamber also resolved to set up an ad hoc committee led by Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, to investigate the matter.

Also, Lere Olayinka, senior special assistant on public communications and new media to Wike, on Wednesday refuted allegations of land grabbing against the FCT administration.

Olayinka, in a statement, said someone in a video being circulated on social media claimed that the FCTA had grabbed land belonging to a construction company.

He said the land is located in Life Camp on Plot 2241, Gwarinpa district, cadastral zone C02.