Wike Orders Demolition of Enchroachments on Abuja Technology Village Land

By: Wisdom Acka

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has ordered demolition of illegal structures enchroaching on the Abuja Technology Village (ATV) land.

Wike, who gave this order during a visit Monday to the Village in Chika, wondered why the people have refused to vacate the land having being compensated since 2015.

His words: “I urge those who settled here illegally to know that we will not hesitate to move them out. No amount of campaign will stop us from doing the right thing. I am not impressed with what I am seeing. We don’t lack the political will.”

“If you don’t take action, people will not believe that anything is possible. As I go back, I will call the Development Control Department and give them ultimatum for these people to leave,” he added.

“They have been compensated since 2015, but if that was the case, I don’t know why we couldn’t fence the area up till now. When this fencing takes place, you will see that they wouldn’t have choice, but to leave,” Wike reiterated.

Addressing the acting Managing-Director of the Technology Village, Wike said: “You are incharge of this place, and you don’t even have an office here, at least to show presence and tell people that we are here, so if an investor is coming now, he is coming to meet an empty land, and you are renting an office out of the Village.”

“Let us know what it will take to erect a befitting office, so you can leave that place that you said you are renting, and if you calculate the amount of money you spent renting, it is a waste, as you could use that money to start doing something good,” the Minister remarked.

Wike disclosed that he had invited the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, so that he could take active operation of the place and attract investors.

Nnaji disclosed that the vision of the ATV was to model it after the Silicon Valley in the USA and the London Technology City.

He revealed that there was huge interests from many companies; stating that a particular US company came a month ago, with the intention to instal 200 mega watts of power in the Village.

The Technology Minister regretted that, with the encroachment issue, such interests could not materialize.

Acting Managing Director, ATV, Yusuf Shafeek Isa, had said that the hopes of the workers were being renewed by the Minister’s visit; assuring, he would provide all the Minister demanded.