The federal government on Thursday in Abuja assured the Jiwa community of some palliative projects in the 2024 national budget.

Aviation minister Festus Keyamo gave the assurance during the official taking over of the site to construct the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

According to Mr Keyamo, the government is ready to build a health centre bridge and a five-kilometre road within the community. The minister said the nation’s law could not allow the government to compensate the community more than N825 million for the Abuja runway.

He added that the government added palliative projects in the 2024 budget to complement previous compensations for the community.

“Today is very unique. Today’s event is just a formal handover of the site. President Bola Tinubu will soon be invited for the groundbreaking. We really thank the people of the Jiwa community,” Mr Keyamo stated. “The community chief always fights for the welfare of his people. We could not bypass the law to raise the compensation amount.”

“What we did, with the agreement with Jiwa community’s chief head, was that other palliatives must come to his people. That is while in the 2024 budget, I and the FCT minister already concluded the plan to put so many projects for the Jiwa community,” he said.

According to the minister, the second runway will create many jobs and business opportunities for the Jiwa community.

Mr Keyamo called on the contractors, led by CCECC Nigeria Limited, working on the site to consider employing the villagers before others.

He added, “Jiwa community people are able people. When you need welders, carpenters, labourers or artisans, you should go for them first before others.”

Emir of Jiwa, Idris Isah, expressed displeasure about the compensation paid by the federal government while comparing it with the site’s usefulness to the entire community.

He appealed to the minister to ensure the contractor employed the community youths to construct the second runway. 

(NAN)