2nd Runway: FCTA to Pay Over N825m Compensation

By: Wisdom Acka

Finally amicable resolution has been reached for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to pay more than N825 million worth of compensation to pave way for development of the second runway for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Recall that Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council granted approval for award of contract for construction of the project in 2022 and the contract was subsequently awarded.

The project was expected for completion last June, but lack of access to the land, due to non-payment of compensation of communities to relocate and pave way for commencement of work on the site has stalled the project.

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, announced that the FCT Administration would pay the sum of N825,819 million as compensation claims to original inhabitant communities for them to be relocated so that work could commence immediately.

He also identified with members of the community, acknowledging their plight and appreciating Sarkin Jiwa, HRH Musa Idris, for mobilizing his people to support the project.

Wike regretted that the project would not have been stalled, if the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development had not usurped a responsibility of the FCT Administration, in the first place.

His words: “What is wrong is wrong; if the Ministry of Aviation has kept to its powers, we won’t have been here. They (Aviation Ministry) came and usurped the powers of the FCTA that is why we are here”.

Wike said this on Tuesday at the conference hall of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) at the Central Business District, Abuja, while playing host to the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo.

Declaring that the matter has been amicably resolved, adding that there was no loser and no winner, even as he revealed that, on corporate social responsibility, the FCTA would employ 10 members of the community, while the Aviation Minister would absorb 12.

He added that his Administration would construct a 5km bridge in Tungan-Magaji where members of community would be relocated to and provide a healthcare facility for the people.

Earlier, the Aviation Minister, decried that the date for completion of the project has elapsed when they were yet to mobilize to site.

He stated that the second runway was a national project that would benefit not only the country, but also members of the communities.

Others who attended the stakeholders meeting on how to find ways for the compensation of the communities include the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, Permanent Secretaries of the FCTA, Olusade Adesola and Aviation Ministry, among others.