The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has denied reports in some sections of the media that FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike was embarking on a demolition spree in the nation’s capital.
The Director of Press, Anthony Ogunleye, in a statement issued Wednesday said FCTA was forced to address the news repor that the minister was embarking on demolition of 6000 houses across 30 settlements in Abuja as well as the Wadata Plaza, the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He stated categorically that the media are entirely false and without any basis in reality.
Ogunleye said: “The story on demolition of 6000 houses was reported by a national daily newspaper on the 22nd of August 2023 with the caption “Abuja land: FG may revoke land allocations, demolish 6000 buildings, slums” while another mainstream newspaper also published this highly irritating story: “Wadata Plaza will go down, Reactions trail Wike’s demolition threat”.
“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.
“Equally vexing is the headline from a reputable broadcast station saying, “I will fix Abuja in 6 days” and attributed same to the FCT Minister. We wish to state quite clearly that 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.”
Ogunleye noted that Wike 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.
He maintained that the claim that the minister was orchestrating large-scale demolitions was not only inaccurate but also lacks credibility
Ogunleye added that such sensationalist reporting not only misleads the public but also undermines the vital role that accurate and well-researched journalism plays in the society.