The Nigerian Senate has directed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to immediately halt the ongoing demolition of properties in Abuja pending the outcome of an investigation by an ad-hoc committee. This resolution was reached on Thursday following a motion raised by Senator Ireti Kingibe, who highlighted concerns over the increasing hardship caused by the demolitions.
Kingibe argued that the demolition exercise has gone beyond due process, resulting in the destruction of properties worth billions of naira. She cited specific cases, including the revocation and demolition of Merss Paulosa estate, allocated to late Colonel Paul Osang Kwanwa in 1984, as examples of the controversial actions.
“Demolitions in the FCT are no longer based on the reasons initially given by the administration, such as illegal structures or undeveloped plots. Instead, they now appear arbitrary and lack proper court orders,” Kingibe stated.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, supported the motion, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation before further actions. “Damage cannot be done first, only for investigations to follow later. We must act with patriotism and avoid unnecessary legal actions against the government,” Akpabio remarked.
In response, the Senate constituted an ad-hoc committee led by Senator Jibrin Barau to investigate the demolitions and ensure they align with legal and procedural standards.
While the motion received overwhelming support, Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West, opposed halting the minister’s statutory duties but agreed on the need for an investigation.
The committee is expected to present its findings to the Senate in the coming weeks.
