Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has threatened to destroy unlawfully built residences in the nation’s capital, regardless of who owns the land.
Wike, who took his oath of office with 44 other newly appointed Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Monday, issued the warning at a news conference at the FCT Minister’s office in Garki, Abuja.
Houses created to violate the Abuja Masterplan, as well as those built on green spaces, would be removed, according to the FCT Minister, regardless of who owns them.
“All those people who are distorting the Masterplan of Abuja, too bad. If you know you have built where you are not supposed to build, it will go down.
“Be you a Minister of anywhere, be you an ambassador, if you know you have developed where you were not supposed to develop, your house must go down. Those who have taken over the green areas to build, sorry, our parks must come back, the green areas must come back. If you hate green, you must hate yourself,” Wike said.
While responding to questions as to whether his threatened demolition will be used as a form of vendetta against his enemies, Wike said, “Say the truth, you don’t like those who step on toes. I will step on toes. The big and mighty, I will step on them. If you are doing what is wrong, I will do what I am supposed to do”, noting that his task was to return the FCT to what it used to be, rather than as a witch hunt against anyone.
