More than 200 families who resided in Nuwalege, a rural community along the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road in Abuja, have been reportedly rendered homeless, following the demolition of their homes to accommodate an extension of the Presidential Air Fleet.
The demolition was carried out by the Federal Capital Development Authority, at the request of the Nigerian Air Force.
Subsequently, the displaced residents were forced to seek shelter in nearby communities, including Zamani, Sauka, Giri, Iddo, Gwagwalada, and others.
Details of the PAF project and its funding were not available but there are indications the project would commence soon as NAF personnel had been mobilised to the project site ahead of construction activities.
However, the affected families said they had not received compensation from the Nyesom Wike-led Federal Capital Territory Administration, the Nigeria Air Force and the Ministry of Aviation.
On Wednesday, one of our correspondents, who visited Nuwalege, previously inhabited by Abuja natives and other Nigerians, was prevented from accessing the community by heavily armed Air Force personnel guarding the site.
Last December, during a citizens’ engagement with the community, the Director of the FCT Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, said the Air Force had written to the FCT minister giving notice of the plan to relocate the residents, noting, however, that the status of compensation for the people was uncertain.
“We will discuss with the Air Force because obviously, discussions behind the scenes indicate that some forms of compensation were paid. We are going to conduct further investigation by engaging the FCT Department of Resettlement and Compensation as well as the Nigerian Air Force and find out if compensation has been paid, to whom, and when,” Galadima said.
Addressing journalists after the demolition in January, the director claimed the residents were given a two-month notice before the exercise, adding that his office had informed the Air Force of the administration’s policy on relocating indigenous communities.
“We informed the residents residing on the Nigeria Air Force land about the impending action and granted them a two-month window to pack their belongings.
“When the Air Force approached us, we told them about the FCTA policy on relocation and resettlement of indigenous communities. However, other non-indigenes are to be moved out of the location so that the Air Force can take over their land.
“The structures belonging to indigenes were left out because statutorily they have to be relocated and compensated, that’s why we are not touching their properties,” he stated.
