On Thursday, the Senate directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to suspend further demolitions of structures until its investigation into the matter is concluded.
The Senate also established an ad hoc committee, led by Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin, to investigate the legitimacy of the ongoing demolition exercise. The minister has been summoned to appear before the committee.
These resolutions followed a motion raised by the FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe, during plenary. She expressed concerns that the demolition exercise lacked proper procedure and was causing significant hardship for those affected, urging the Senate to intervene.
Wike has faced criticism for his extensive demolition activities in Abuja. Recently, a construction company, Paullosa Nigeria Limited, raised concerns after receiving a demolition notice from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) for its estate in the Lifecamp area of Abuja.
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Senator Ireti said, “Further concern that demolition in FCT is no longer in line with due process and that a cross-section of individuals has suffered untold hardship occasioned by massive demolitions which have led to loss of properties worth billions of naira.
“Note that the Federal Capital Territory Administration, on the instruction of the Honorable Minister of Federal Capital Territory, embarked on massive demolition of structures within the Federal Capital Territory.
“Also note that the demolition, according to the FCT authority, was informed by illegal structures and non-development of allocated plots of land by the FCT administration.
“Also concerned that at the moment, an estate by the name Messrs Paulosa, for which late Colonel Paul Osang Kwanwa of Bebo, is the chairman, is currently under revocation and demolition. And from reliable information, the said plot of land was allocated to him in 1984 with the requisite title documents.
“And further concerned that the owner of this estate was a patriotic Nigerian who served the nation meritoriously and one of the first intakes of the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna, with registration number 001.”
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Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) seconded the motion, calling for a halt to the demolition exercise until the Senate concludes its investigation into the matter.
However, Senator Sunday Karimi (Kogi West) opposed the motion, urging fellow senators not to prevent the minister from carrying out his official duties.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified that not all demolitions could be stopped, noting that some had been ordered by the courts.
The Senate ultimately resolved that all structures marked for demolition in the FCT, unless court-ordered, should not be affected until the ad hoc committee completes its investigation.
The committee has two weeks to submit its findings to the Senate.
A moment of drama occurred when Senator Kingibe stormed out of plenary in frustration after what she perceived as an attempt to block her from presenting her motion.
After several minutes, Akpabio instructed senators to find her and bring her back to the chamber.
When she returned, Akpabio reminded her that as an elected representative of the FCT, it was crucial for her to remain in the chamber during plenary. He also requested that she apologize to her colleagues for leaving without notice.
Kingibe later apologized and proceeded to present her motion, becoming visibly emotional, particularly at the start of her speech.
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