The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has urged political and community leaders to cooperate with the Administration for the overall development of the territory.
The minister, who spoke when political and community leaders in the FCT, led by Senator Philip Aduda, in the wake of the removal of illegal structures at Apo Akpajenya and Dagbalo in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), said the exercise was to pave way for the completion of a road project.
Malam Bello reiterated that there was the need for constant communication between the Administration and community leaders.
“Dialogue and sensitization, community engagement of traditional, religious, indigenous communities as well as the area council political leadership and overall information dissemination are solutions to community issues.
“I assure you that the relevant departments will make sure that what happened doesn’t happen in the way it happened,” he said, adding that this particular case was inherited and that demolition was always the very last resort.
He, however, called on his guests not to shy away from reality as there were a number of pending projects that would require the cooperation of the communities to ensure success and the overall development of the FCT.
The minister added that he was an advocate of community integration and urban renewal, where urban development is implemented around indigenous communities.
He decried situations where community heads refuse to cooperate with the Administration for the development of certain areas within the FCT.
He encouraged community leaders who had been relocated and resettled to move to the new locations as this would encourage the community members to follow suit, adding that, community heads should show leadership and lead by example.
Senator Aduda had said that the delegation was in the FCTA to register concern over the removal of illegal structures in the affected communities. He said that in future, before such exercises were carried out, enough notice and time should be given to the affected communities to forestall any hardship.
The meeting had in attendance House of Representatives member, Micah Jiba, representing the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, the Executive Chairman of the AMAC, Adamu Abdullahi Candido, the Sapeyi of Garki, Usman Ngakupi.
Others were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, the Executive Secretary FCDA, Engr Umar Gambo Jibrin, and the Director of Security, FCTA, Mr Adamu Gwary.
