By Sunday Gbegbe in Abuja
Nigeria’s FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has expressed the determination of the Administration to resettle the indigenous communities with a view to bringing to reality, the dreams of the founding fathers of Abuja.
The FCT Minister of State, who disclosed this at a one-day Town Hall meeting on resettlement and compensation matters in the Federal Capital Territory, argued that indigenous communities should be resettled if the territory wants to get rid of slums and prevent the already perceptible slide into urban decay.
Aliyu lamented that policy changes had constituted a major challenge to the resettlement issue, stressing that within 27 years, from 1976-2003, four major policy changes had affected resettlement policy in the Federal Capital Territory.
She noted that for the administration to realize the capital city of our dreams, “we have to pay due regard to the original inhabitants whose sacrifice of ancestral heritage is enabling our national developmental aspirations”.
Dr. Aliyu recognised that it was incumbent upon the FCTA to resettle and compensate these indigenous communities, where the implementation of the approved development plans demands such, adding that once the Administration does that, “we are on the way to the emergence of Abuja as envisaged by our founding fathers.”
According to her,Abuja should be seen as “a city in which liveability standards are comparable to those in any capital city in the world, and the sanctity and well-being of all and sundry is guaranteed by a just and equitable governance system.”
Aliyu stated that over these years, the need had continued to exist for development-induced displacement and resettlement as the nation’s capital continued to evolve into Africa’s fastest growing metropolis.
The Minister, however, reiterated that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) was saddled with this responsibility, adding that the Administration had been doing its best possible to see that communities due for resettlement were properly relocated.
Dr Aliyu revealed that arrangements were in top gear to relocate communities such as Jabi-Yakubu, Jabi-Samuel and Mabushi to Shere-Galuwyi, adding that the process of relocating others had commenced, and more communities would be relocated next year.
She called on the people of FCT to be united, remain honest and open minded indigenous people, so that no one hijack the process of Resettlement and compensation policy of the FCT Administration, planned to bring development and Progress to the Territory.
Speaking in the same vein, FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, said that effective resettlement policy remained the collective responsibilities of both government and residents, noting that the Administration remained resolute by ensuring the realisation of delivering a world class city and territory, comparable to the best in the world.
He said the FCT Administration frowned at the ugly situation where unsuspecting citizens acquired land in the territory from unauthorised sources, only to face unpleasant consequences thereafter, just as she advised that residents, who wish to acquire land in the FCT to follow due process as laid down by the Administration.
Responding, the Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, representing Federal Capital Territory, Comrade Ezekiel Dalhatu, said that Land allocation should be made on undeveloped lands and not on existing communities, that way, the issues of Resettlement would not even arise but compensation.
He recommended that the FCTA should adopt a 40-60 formula for the allocation of land in the FCTA, Where the communities take 40% of the land allocation & FCTA takes 60%.
The Commissioner suggested that the Department of Resettlement and Compensation should be made a Board which would comprise the Area Council Chairmen, the traditional rulers, FCT National Assembly members and the Civil society organizations.
Comrade Ezekiel said that the Indigenous communities should be integrated into the development plan of the new district, to allow existing communities own part of the district allocation, which has a clear building plan.
