In a decisive move, Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has issued a directive for illegal occupants at the proposed site of the Abuja Technology Village, located along Airport Road, to vacate the area. The directive was given during his visit to the site in Abuja on Monday.
Accompanying the former Rivers State governor on this visit was the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji. Wike stated that he would instruct the Department of Development Control to issue an ultimatum to the illegal occupants to leave the area. He added that the indigenous community in the area had already been compensated back in 2015.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs, Wike said, “I am not impressed with what I am seeing. We don’t lack the political will. If you don’t take action, people will not believe that anything is possible."
He further stated, “I will call the Development Control Department and give them an ultimatum for these people to leave. They have been compensated since 2015." Wike urged those who had settled in the area illegally to understand that the authorities would not hesitate to move them out, asserting that no amount of campaigning would deter them from doing the right thing.
Wike also advised the management of the Abuja Technology Village to take possession of the space, fence the area, and establish some level of presence. He explained that he had invited Nnaji to accompany him to the site so that he could take control of the place and explore how investors could be brought in.
Finally, Wike requested the management of the Technology Village to send him an estimate of what would be required to erect a suitable office on the site. This move underscores the government's commitment to the development of the Abuja Technology Village and its readiness to take decisive action to ensure its success.