Gishiri Demolition: ES FCDA Commends FCT Minister Over Compensation

….Advises residents against building in unauthorised places

By: Ben Ukeji

The Acting Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over his compassionate role in the increment of the compensation of demolished structures on Arterial Road N16 in Gishiri, Katampe District of the Federal Capital City, Abuja.

Dauda, who made the commendation said that the Minister had directed the Department of Resettlement and Compensation of FCDA to increase the rate of compensation of the demolished structures, because of the prevailing economic realities.

According to him, the Minister directed for the upward review of the compensation to the affected persons in the Gishiri community from the initial valuation of N665 million to N1.3 billion and also instructed that appropriate land be sourced and allocated to the affected persons.

The ES further stated that the Minister has also recently approved a general review of the compensation rates in the FCT to reflect the current economic realities.

Dauda, praised the FCT Minister for his compassion and sympathy for the victims, who had their houses on N16 road corridor (Shehu Shagari Way) and said the improved compensation by the Minister will go a long way in mitigating the impact of economic hardship for the affected persons.

According to him, the efforts of the Minister to accommodate all interests in governance clearly demonstrate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s desire to improve the wellbeing of all Nigerians including the residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

The FCDA Boss explained that the agency, through the Department of Resettlement and Compensation has an existing policy on the compensation of structures built on road corridors, water mains, sewer lines and other critical infrastructure of the government.

He stated that the demolition was to pave way for the construction of a major road linking Maitama District in the Phase I of the city to Jahi District in Phase II that would be beneficial to all residents of the Territory and was not intended to cause pain to anyone but to serve the purpose of government providing facilities for the general good of all FCT residents.

He, therefore, advised residents against building structures in unauthorised places; emphasising that Abuja has a well-designed Master Plan that stipulates how and where structures are be built.

The ES insisted that the present Administration in the FCT is committed to the implementation of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of the President by providing necessary infrastructure that would improve the standard of living of the residents and also make commuting pleasurable in-and-out of the FCT.

It would be recalled that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had last week on Tuesday, 11th March 2025, led officials of the FCTA to demolish structures obstructing the construction of Road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way) in Gishiri community of Katampe District, Abuja.