ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has successfully resolved a long-standing dispute concerning the construction of a second runway at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
In a breakthrough announcement, Wike revealed that N825.819 million would be allocated as compensation to indigenes of the region, facilitating the establishment of the 4.2km runway.
The critical decision comes after months of contention and deliberation. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had granted approval for the second runway’s development in March 2022. The expansive project, divided into four distinct components, is on track for inauguration by June 2023.
Challenges arose when residents from a section of the Jiwa community, which encompasses the designated runway area, vehemently opposed their forced displacement from ancestral lands. In response, they sought compensation from the government as a remedy for the displacement.
A pivotal breakthrough occurred during a recent conflict-resolution dialogue attended by members of the Jiwa community and other stakeholders.
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Minister Wike empathized with the community’s concerns and grievances, expressing his commitment to addressing their rightful claims.
Acknowledging their hardships, Wike promptly ordered the immediate disbursement of N825 million as compensation for the landowners affected by the project.
Speaking on the resolutions of the meeting, Wike said: “We have been able to resolve amicably with the community, and contractors will now move to site.
“The FCT, through the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, will release the money approved for compensation and settlement of those who are there. The total value is N825.82 million for the compensation and resettlement.
“As part of the incentives to the community, 12 immediate employment from the Ministry of Aviation and its agencies as the case maybe, and 10 from the Federal Capital Territory Administration have been guaranteed for Jiwa community.
“We are going to construct Tunga Madaki bridge, which we will put in the 2024 budget, with a 5km road. We are going to provide a modern healthcare facility for the community.
“The permanent secretaries of the Ministry of Aviation and that of FCTA, His Royal Highness (the Sarkin Jiwa), AMAC chairman, and the commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, PCC-FCT, will sign the agreement reached between government and Jiwa community.
”If that is done today, tomorrow or next, the moment the money gets to them, the contractors will no longer delay, as they have to move to site immediately and commence work. So, the second runway has come to stay.
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“I know how you are feeling. I am from a community where government has taken virtually all our lands for development. So, if there is anything that should be done to make you happy, I will carry it on my head.
”But the truth remains that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. If the aviation ministry had concerned itself with the runway project alone, we wouldn’t have found ourselves here but they came to usurp the job of the FCTA.
”It is within the powers of the FCTA to do that. There is a certain legal schedule by which compensation is paid. We know the implications of not following the provisions of the law. When they say rule of law, it does not apply to government alone. It applies to all.
“We will perhaps think outside the box about, maybe in the area of social responsibility, to see how we can get other things for the people alongside what the law stipulates as compensation.”
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of FCDA, Shehu Hadi, had clarified that the FCTA had no business offering compensation to occupants of land, having issued the land to a third party.
According to him, it is the duty of anyone who is offered land to compensate the occupants of that land.
“I want to clarify one of the issues raised which is payment of compensation. That is where the FCT perspective on this issue has to be made clear. It is the responsibility of the MDAs to make arrangements for the payment of compensation after we have allocated lands to them.
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“The Department of Resettlement and Compensation in the FCT assists in he enumeration of economic trees, structures etc for compensation”, he stated.
On his part, the traditional ruler of the area, the Sarkin Jiwa, Alhaji Idris Musa, had explained the frustration of his people, saying he had for months had sleepless nights because of the back and forth in respect of compensation.
He said: “We sat with the Aviation and FCT Administration. Aviation has a consultant in respect of the compensation but it was the consultant who sat with us and the FCTA was an observer. In certain terms, we have agreed with the consultant that they will pay N2.5m per hectare.
“So, at last, the administration said aviation had no right to do that, that it is the FCTA that should do it. Then each hectare came to less than N700,000.
“The community wrote to the FCT Public Complaints Commission and up till yesterday, we were holding meetings in my palace to see that this issue is resolved in the overriding public interest.”
He urged the aviation ministry and the FCTA to scale up the amount of compensation from less than N700,000, so people can acquire other lands.