Wike warns of demolition of illegal structures in FCT, says he will not hesitate to step on toes

The recently inaugurated Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has firmly pledged to dismantle unlawfully erected residences within the national capital, irrespective of whose properties might be impacted.

This declaration was pronounced by Wike, who has just taken his official oath alongside 44 other recently designated Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He made this statement during a media briefing at the FCT Minister’s office in Garki, Abuja, on Monday.

Drawing from his previous role as the Governor of Rivers State, Wike emphasized that dwellings constructed in violation of the Abuja Masterplan, as well as those encroaching upon green spaces, will be subject to demolition, regardless of ownership.

I will step on toes

The FCT Minister said,

• “All those people who are distorting the Masterplan of Abuja, too bad. If you know you have built where you are not supposed to build, it will go down.
• “Be you a Minister of anywhere, be you an ambassador, if you know you have developed where you were not supposed to develop, your house must go down. Those who have taken over the green areas to build, sorry, our parks must come back, the green areas must come back. If you hate green, you must hate yourself.’’

On whether his threatened demolition will be used as a form of vendetta against his enemies, Wike said,

• “Say the truth, you don’t like those who step on toes. I will step on toes. The big and mighty, I will step on them. If you are doing what is wrong, I will do what I am supposed to do”, noting that his task was to return the FCT to what it used to be, rather than as a witch hunt against anyone.’’

This is a developing story…