The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, supervised the demolition of parts of the Gishiri community in Katampe District, Abuja.

Mr Wike explained during the exercise in Abuja that the demolished structures were built on a road corridor.

According to the minister, the action became necessary due to the failure of the affected residents to relocate.

He recalled that the FCT Administration had awarded a contract for the construction of a dual carriageway from Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, by NICON Junction to Wole Soyinka Way, which was expected to be completed in May.

Mr Wike said funds for compensation have been made available, including a site for the affected persons to relocate to.

He, however, said the affected residents refused to collect the compensation and relocate, “meaning the job will not go on. We will not allow that. I have been here more than four times.

“We have sat down with the community leaders and told them the need to cooperate with the government so that the contractor will be able to complete the project and hand it over by May.

“The traditional leaders pleaded with us to give them one week. The money for compensation has been made available, and we made available somewhere where they can relocate.

“However, with all these assurances, it does appear that work is not going on and I did inform the traditional rulers that this work has to go on.”

The minister said, “Enough is enough”, and stressed that no government would fold its arms and allow people to sabotage a project being executed for the public’s interest.

He expressed dismay that the people refused to cooperate with the government even when the space was not being acquired by some person to build houses.

“So, I called the community leaders while away in Milan, Italy, that I am going to be personally here to supervise this demolition, and that’s what I came for,” Mr Wike said.

He said the government had done what was humanly possible by giving the affected persons more than three months to do what was right.

“I can fold my arms and say let the work stop. No, we won’t do that. We will not do that. We have given them enough time,” the minister said.

On the way forward, the minister said the director of compensation and resettlement would return to the community and work out what would be feasible for the affected residents.

“If they don’t want it, it is their business,” Mr Wike said.

Reacting to the demolition exercise, some angry residents threw stones at the operators of the bulldozers.

The police and other security agencies at the scene had to use teargas to disperse the angry youths to bring them under control.

(NAN)