The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has directed the Federal Capital Development Authority to ensure the immediate and full payment of compensation to residents affected by the Gishiri demolition.
Wike gave the directive during a meeting with members of the community, at his official residence in Abuja on Monday.
The meeting followed a demolition exercise, supervised by the minister, to clear structures obstructing the construction of Arteria Road N16 linking the community with the Katampe District.
Members of the community, however, alleged that the FCDA, through the Department of Resettlement and Compensation, only paid N72,000 as compensation, rather than the sum approved by the Minister.
They further stated that the department refused to pay non-indigenes any compensation, despite having their houses demolished.
The minister ordered the full payment of the N1.3bn approved as compensation payments to the residents, noting that he had increased the amount from the previous N655m, because of the economic hardship.
He further asked the Secretary to ensure non-indigenes also received payments, adding that the government did not pay compensation based on ethnicity.
He stated, “Go and pay people their money, and the exact amount. If you are doing anything, and I find out, you will regret it. Pay people their normal money.
“And I also hear, and I’ve told you, don’t do that, don’t tell anybody in this world that they are non-indigenes. I’ve warned you. If I have a property, and a road is passing there, why would you not pay me my money? Why would you say that I’m a non-indigene? Where does it work?
“I built a house, or I built a store, for example, and then a road is passing there. You are telling me you won’t compensate me that I’m a non-indigene? What kind of mentality is that? You people should stop this. I will not do that, I won’t.
“Government does not pay compensation based on where you come from. Compensation is based on who has a property there.”
