The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to continue demolishing properties in the nation’s capital, saying he won’t be influenced by blackmail.
Wike explained that the structures being demolished by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) were illegally built on government land. During the distribution of operational vehicles to security agencies at the FCTA Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, November 12, he said, “We are not afraid of blackmail. There are many land grabbers, but some of us have come to put our feet down. Let heaven fall. It’s better that heaven comes down now than we continue fasting for it.”
The FCTA has recently ramped up demolitions of illegal structures in estates and shanties across Abuja. Despite facing protests and backlash, Wike remains firm, vowing to target more unlawfully constructed buildings.
“We will stop anyone who thinks they can take government land without formal approval,” he said. “No amount of blackmail will deter us. What is wrong is wrong, no matter who is involved.”
His comments came the same day the Senate ordered an investigation into the demolitions, establishing a committee to review the matter.
