Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike has made available, the sum of over N825 million to compensate Jiwa community to pave for the construction of the 2nd runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.
“As we leave here, the Federal Capital Territory through the FCDA will release the money approved for compensation and resettlement of those who are there. The total value of what we are paying is N825, 819,911.43 (Eight hundred and twenty-five million, eight hundred and nineteen thousand naira, Nine Hundred and Eleven Naira Forty-Three Kobo) for the compensation and resettlement.”
The minister spoke today, August 29, shortly after signing of an agreement between the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Jiwa community on whose land the runway will be constructed.
The contract for the construction of the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport was awarded in March 2022 by the Ministry of Aviation and Aero Space Development, but work could not commence due to disagreements over issues of resettlement and compensation.
At the signing of the agreement between the FCTA and the Jiwa community today, Wike said that contractors will now move to site in the next few days to commence work on the project.
The minister expressed gratitude to God for the amicable resolution of the contending issues.
He also appreciated the Sarkin Jiwa, Alhaji Idris Musa, for mobilizing his people to resolve the issues and that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the Ministry of Aviation to kick-start and complete the second runway project, which is very vital for the international airport in the capital city.
Wike said that as part of incentives to the community, the FCT Administration will give immediate employment to 10 indigenes of the Jiwa community, while another 12 will come from the Ministry of Aviation and the Aviation Agencies.
He assured them that the Administration will include the rehabilitation of the Tunga Madaki bridge in Jiwa community in the 2024 budget, in addition to the provision of a modern healthcare facility.
“We are going to construct Tunga Madaki bridge which will be put in 2024 budget. Secondly, we are going to provide for the community, a modern healthcare facility that is better than what is there now.
“We believe by the grace God, if that is done today and then tomorrow or next tomorrow, the money is paid to them, the contractors will no longer delay. They have to move to the site immediately and commence work. The second runway has come to stay.”
Earlier in his remark, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) said that work ought to have started on the second runway project but regretted that contractors could not be mobilized to site due to the contending issues.
Keyamo called on the community to cooperate with the government to ensure the realization of the project, adding that they also stand to benefit from the development in the area in addition to other corporate social responsibility to the community.
Also speaking, the Sarkin Jiwa, Alhaji Idris Musa assured of the cooperation and support of the Jiwa community towards the actualization of the project which, he said, is in the overriding interest of the public.
During the signing ceremony between the FCTA, Ministry of Aviation and the Jiwa Community, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola said that the compensation was for enumerated communities in Jiwa which still had one community -Angwan Kano- yet to be enumerated.
On the conclusion of the enumeration, he said, community will also be compensated.
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