FCT: ‘They never demanded N1bn, compensation for emirs’ – Wike hails Abuja community

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday hailed Tunga Madaki community in Abuja following the construction of an access road.

Wike said the community never demanded for one billion naira or what he termed payment of “tithes to the Emirs and Chiefs” before allowing the construction of the road.

He spoke during the commissioning of the newly constructed Airport Road (Bill Clinton Drive) To Tunga Madaki Community as part of projects to mark President Bola Tinubu’s third year in office.

However, Wike said Tunga Madaki should be an example to other communities across the capital city.

Wike said: “Mr President, you can see that of all the commissioning days, today appears to be different because we are in the satellite town. today the people of Tunda Madaki have shown their appreciation to Mr President by coming out enmass to say now we can feel the impact of the government, now we know what governance is all about.

“This project came as a result of when the government wanted to embark on the construction of the second runway of the international airport and we were about to pay compensation to the community for their land.

“I want to say that this community should be an example to other communities to learn from them and not for collecting money from people.”

The Minister recalled that the community only demanded for employment and roads which have been met.

“They made two basic demands, they said we are willing to support the government and allow the construction to pass but the government please help us, we want employment for our people, we want road for our community.

“The community did not say if you don’t put one billion naira you won’t come there, if you don’t give out youths money you will not come there, if you don’t pay tithes to the Emirs and Chiefs you will not come there, they made basic demands and I want to thank the people of Tunda Madaki for making that demands.

“They have given us the opportunity to know the problems here, but for you we won’t have known a community called Tunga Madaki. They requested jobs and by the grace of God we employed them,” he said.