The Nigerian Senate has ordered the suspension of demolitions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), directing the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to halt the exercise pending an investigation into its legality and impact. The decision follows concerns raised by Senator Ireti Kingibe regarding the destruction of properties without proper due process. An ad-hoc committee has been set up to probe the demolitions.
The Nigerian Senate has directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to suspend the ongoing demolitions in Abuja until an investigation is concluded by an ad-hoc committee. The Senate's intervention came after Senator Ireti Kingibe raised concerns over the scale and legality of the demolitions. Kingibe noted that the demolitions were no longer in line with due process and that many individuals had faced significant losses, including properties worth billions of naira. She pointed out that the Federal Capital Administration, under Wike’s direction, had been demolishing structures deemed illegal or unapproved, though some demolitions appeared to lack proper legal justification.
The motion also highlighted the case of an estate, Merss Paulosa, where demolitions were ongoing despite the land being allocated with official documentation in 1984. Kingibe called for a halt to the demolitions until a thorough investigation could take place. In response, Senator Sunday Karimi opposed the motion, arguing that halting the demolitions would impede the minister's authority and suggested investigating the demolitions conducted so far.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio supported the motion, emphasizing that an investigation should occur after the action is halted, not before. He expressed concern that ongoing demolitions could lead to legal consequences. Akpabio ultimately ruled that the demolitions should be suspended, and an ad-hoc committee, led by Senator Jibrin Barau, was tasked with probing the issue further. This move reflects the Senate’s commitment to ensuring due process in the FCT.
