By Stanley Onyekwere
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has reiterated the determination of the FCT Administration to resettle and compensate the indigenous communities, with a view to realising the dreams of the founding fathers of Abuja.
Aliyu, who stated this at the one-day Town Hall meeting on resettlement and compensation matters in the FCT, also argued that indigenous communities should be resettled if the territory wants to get rid of slums and prevent the already perceptible slide into urban decay.
Aliyu lamented that policy changes have constituted a major challenge to the resettlement issue, stressing that within 27 years, from 1976-2003, four major policy changes have affected resettlement policy in the Federal Capital Territory.
“For us to realise the capital city of our dreams, we have to pay due regard to the original inhabitants whose sacrifice of ancestral heritage is enabling our national developmental aspirations.
“We recognise that it is incumbent upon us to resettle and compensate these indigenous communities where the implementation of the approved development plans demands such.
“ Once we do that, we can be on our way to the emergence of Abuja as envisaged by our founding fathers, a city in which liveability standards are comparable to those in any capital city in the world, and the sanctity and well-being of all and sundry is guaranteed by a just and equitable governance system.
“Over these years, the need has continued to exist for development-induced displacement and resettlement as the nation’s capital has continued to evolve into Africa’s fastest growing metropolis”, Aliyu stressed.
The minister, however, assured that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) saddled with this responsibility, is up and doing to see that communities due for resettlement are properly relocated.
She revealed that already, the arrangements are in top gear to relocate communities such as Jabi-Yakubu, Jabi-Samuel and Mabushi to Shere-Galuwyi, adding that the process of relocating others has commenced, and more communities would be permanently relocated next year.
Similarly, FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, said effective resettlement policy remains the collective responsibilities of both government and residents, noting that the Administration remains resolute by ensuring the realisation of delivering a world class city and territory comparable to the best in the world.
He said the FCT Administration frowns at the ugly situation where unsuspecting citizens acquire land in the territory from unauthorised sources only to face unpleasant consequences thereafter, just as he advised that residents who wish to acquire land in the FCT to follow due process as laid down by the Administration.
