The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that compensation in the ongoing road construction in Gishiri Village, Katampe District, will only be provided to those whose homes fall directly within the construction corridor.
Speaking during a media live chat on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Wike said the project is essential for community development and clarified that it targets only the road corridor, not the entire community.
“The road is for the development of the people. We are not taking the whole community, just the road corridor. Only those whose houses were affected should be compensated,” Wike stated.
The comment follows the minister’s directive on Tuesday, ordering the demolition of structures obstructing the construction of Arterial Road N16 in Gishiri Village.
During a site visit, Wike highlighted previous efforts to engage community leaders and offer compensation and relocation options to affected residents.
He noted that despite the discussions, some structures reportedly continue to hinder project progress.
“I have visited this site more than four times and have engaged with community leaders and their chiefs. It is crucial for them to cooperate with the government so that CGC, our contractor, can complete this road by May,” Wike added.
The minister also criticized attempts to delay or sabotage the project, stressing his commitment to ensuring its completion.
“If we are coming to a community and say the whole community should evacuate, then you can say we should compensate, not when it’s just 20 houses.
“Now, we are doing that, and you are trying to sabotage us. I have a job to do, and my job is to execute that project,” he said.
While addressing concerns about relocation, Wike argued that constructing new homes is only necessary when an entire community is displaced, not when a limited number of houses are affected.
“If we are relocating a community, then we can go and build houses for them, not just 20 or 50 houses for a road corridor. Sometimes, it doesn’t take all the houses, maybe just some part of it. Where does that happen anywhere in the world?” he queried.
The minister also condemned what he described as the politicisation of traditional institutions and warned against interference in government projects.
“The traditional rulers are playing some politics, you can’t do that with me. We respect traditional institutions, but you can’t sabotage our work,” Wike argued.
The FCT administration had insisted that the project is crucial for urban development and will proceed as planned.
