Abuja

N3.4b Abuja runway: Wike compensates natives with N825m

Published

2 years ago

August 30, 2023

Threats against the N3.4 billion second runway for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, may have been averted following the announcement of N825.819 million compensation for affected natives.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, announced, at a meeting of stakeholders, yesterday, that the months-long dispute regarding the establishment of a second runway for the airport has been resolved.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved N3.4 billion for the construction of a second runway for the airport. However, part of Jiwa Community, which hosts the runway, protested against their eviction from their ancestral lands, demanding compensation from the government.

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Wike told leaders of the community during the meeting that he understood their pains and would do all in his power to get them their dues. He directed the immediate payment of N825 million compensation to the affected land-owners.

According to him, the government has been able to settle, amicably, with the community, and contractors will now move to site.

“The FCT, through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), will release the money approved for compensation and settlement of those who are there. The total value is N825.82 million for the compensation and resettlement.

“As part of the incentives to the community, there are 12 immediate employment slots from the Ministry of Aviation and its agencies, as the case may be, and 10 from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for Jiwa community,” he said.

The minister noted that the government would construct Tunga Madaki Bridge, which will be in the 2024 budget, with a five kilometres road, and provide a modern healthcare facility for the community.

He added: “I know how you are feeling. I am from a community where the government has taken virtually all the land for development. So, if there is anything that should be done to make you happy, I will carry it on my head. But the truth remains that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. If the aviation ministry had concerned itself with the runway project alone, we would not have found ourselves here; but they came to usurp the job of the FCTA.”