FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has denied claims that the administration allocated designated waterways to politicians for the development of estates in Abuja.
Wike described the claim as unsubstantiated, challenging anyone making the allegation to identify the politician involved and produce evidence that the area was allocated and approved for development.
He spoke on Tuesday while addressing journalists after inspecting flood-affected areas in the Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister said the FCT Administration could not have authorised developments on designated water channels, stressing that officials responsible for the city’s master plan were aware of areas reserved for water flow.
“You cannot determine which area is a water channel to FCT. You cannot determine for us! You don’t know the master plan more than us! You just sit in your place and say, ‘Oh, this is a water channel.’ How can somebody allocate a water channel to somebody to build? You think that those who work in FCT are morons? They don’t know anything that they are doing?”
Wike said the ongoing demolition of structures found to be obstructing waterways was inconsistent with the claim that such areas had been allocated by the administration for development.
“I want to deny categorically that this administration allocates water channel way for people to go and develop. If we allocate it, then why do we have to go and demolish.”
He challenged critics to provide specific details of any such allocation instead of making blanket claims about politicians benefiting from waterways.
“If that politician is bold enough, why not say, ‘Look, it was allocated to Mr. A, and it’s a water channel area, and it’s now being used as an estate’?”
“If anybody has one, come out with it to prove to Nigerians, ‘This is a water channel way, and it has been allocated to Mr. Z, and approved for Mr. Z to build something.’ Not just to go and make a blanket statement, ‘Anything now, allocated to politicians.’ Who are the politicians? Do they have no name? So, this is just not correct.”
