The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday announced N825.819 million as compensation for indigenes of Jiwa community in Abuja who are affected by the construction of the 4.2km second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The minister stated this following a negotiation meeting with his counterpart in the ministry of aviation and aerospace development, Mr Festus Keyamo, officials of both ministries, representatives of their agencies and stakeholders from the community.
Wike said the money is meant to incentivise the residents to vacate the community and seek their cooperation towards the completion of the runway which contract was awarded in 2022.
He said the disagreement with Jiwa community had been resolved adding that indigenes of the community would be employed in both ministries.
Besides, he said infrastructure would be provided to give the community a facelift.
“We have been able to resolve amicably with the community, and contractors will now move to site. As part of the incentives to the community, 12 immediate employment from the ministry of aviation and its agencies as the case maybe, and 10 from the Federal Capital Territory Administration for the Jiwa community.
“We are going to construct Tunga Madaki Bridge, which we will put in the 2024 budget, with a 5km road. We are going to provide a modern healthcare facility for the community.
“The permanent secretaries from the ministry of aviation and that of the FCTA, His Royal Highness (the Sarkin Jiwa), Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairman, and the commissioner, Public Complaints Commission (FCT) will sign the agreement reached between government and Jiwa Community, and if that is done today, by tomorrow or next, the moment the money gets to them, the contractors will no longer delay, as they have to move to the site immediately and commence work. So, the second runway has come to stay,” he said.
Wike empathised with the people saying he, too, comes from a place where the government has taken the land for development purposes
“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 themselves with the runway project alone, we wouldn’t have found ourselves here but they came to usurp the job of the FCTA.
“We have only one runway. How would you feel if something happens to that runway tomorrow? It means there will be no flights in a city as big and cosmopolitan as Abuja.”
Earlier in his remarks, Keyamo said the ministry erred in the past by dabbling into issues outside its purview.
“The timeline to commission the second runway was sometime in June or July 2023 and we have not even mobilized to the site by now.
“It is not the business of Aviation to assess compensation in matters of land in the FCT. So, I want to appeal to the community whatever you discussed with Aviation before was totally outside the powers of Aviation. It is within the powers of the FCTA to do that. There is a certain legal schedule by which compensation is paid. We know the implications of not following the provisions of the law. When they say rule of law, it does not apply to the government alone. It applies to all.
“We will perhaps think outside the box about maybe in the area of social responsibility to see how we can get other things for the people alongside what the law stipulates as compensation.”
