Abuja - August 24 - (Viewpoint Housing News) – Office of the Director of Press, Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Anthony Ogunleye on Wednesday debunked news making the rounds that the new FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has targeted 6000 houses across 30 settlements in Abuja, including Wadata Plaza.
“We would like to categorically state that these stories are entirely false and without any basis in reality”, the statement read.
Mr. Wike had in his first press conference as Minister of the FCT set out plans on how his administration of the FCT will be ran. This include demolishing all illegal structures in the FCT, as part of efforts to restore the Abuja Master Plan.
The statement cited a story about the alleged demolition of 6000 houses reported by a national daily on Tuesday, with the caption “Abuja land: FG may revoke land allocations, demolish 6000 buildings, slums”. It also described as “highly irritating” a story captioned “Wadata Plaza will go down”.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Minister did not in any of his pronouncements list the areas or the number of illegal houses to be removed, rather, his emphasis has always been that illegal settlements and structures would be removed for the greater good of the public, the statement read.
“The Honourable Minister has consistently demonstrated a commitment to responsible urban development and the welfare of the people even while he was the governor of Rivers State, a commitment he has assured residents within the FCT since he assumed office as Minister.
“The claim that he is orchestrating large-scale demolitions is not only inaccurate but also lacks credibility”.
The statement further emphasised that it is important to note that the development of the FCT is guided by carefully crafted policies and regulations, with a focus on sustainable urban growth and the preservation of residents’ rights.
“Any decisions made in this regard are rooted in comprehensive assessments, community consultations, and adherence to the rule of law”, it said.
Also, the statement quotes a headline from a “reputable” broadcast station with the title “I will fix Abuja in 6 days”, attributed to Mr. Wike, “at no time did the Honourable Minister say this or allude to this phrase in any way. This headline therefore, is borne purely out of mischief”, it said.
It encourages journalists on the importance of credible journalism.
“We want to emphasize that the Honourable Minister remains steadfast in his dedication to improving the quality of life for all residents of the FCT.
“Any claim to the contrary are purely the result of misinformation and should be treated as such”, the statement concluded.
