“No government will fold its arms and allow people to sabotage a project for the interest of the public.”
This were the starn words of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike, when he personally led a team to demolish houses at Gishiri village in Katampe District of the city. The houses and other structures were believed to be obstructing the construction of the Arterial Road N16 in Gishiri village in Katampe District.
Speaking to newsmen at the site, the Minister said that the residents were duly served with eviction notices and clearly communicated the necessity of their cooperation with the government.
He said that this was vital for the contractor to complete the road project and hand it over by the end of May.
He regretted that the residents rejected government’s offer of compensation and pledge to facilitate their relocation, despite being granted one-week extension as requested by the village chief, thereby impeding work on the road project.
He said that the road project was in the public interest and not a case of acquiring land for private development.
Wike warned that the Administration would not tolerate the sabotage of projects of public interest.
He said that he was personally involved in the demolition exercise to send a message that it would no longer be business as usual.
The Minister said: “we served them with the eviction notice and we told them the need for them to cooperate with the government so that the contractor, CGC will be able to complete this road and then hand it over by May ending.
“The traditional ruler of course pleaded with us to give them one week. The money for compensation has been made available and we did also promise that in spite of that, we will still make available somewhere they can relocate.
“But with all these assurances, it did appear, from what I got in the report, that work is not going on. I informed the traditional ruler that this work has to go on and enough is enough.
“No government will fold its arms and allow people to sabotage a project for the interest of the public. It’s not as if anybody is coming to acquire land to build houses.”
The Minister said that government would not halt a crucial project for the sake of a few individuals, having granted them enough time and made funds available for compensation.
He however promised to relocate the affected residents and provide them compensation even as he advised them to cooperate with the FCT Department of Resettlement and Compensation to finalize the modalities for their relocation.
