The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is to pay more than N825 million worth of compensation to allow for the development of the second runway for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
About a year after the Federal Executive Council approved for award of contract for construction of the project, the project was delayed due to lack of access to the land.
The government was in a fix over non-payment of compensation and relocation of communities.
Work will soon commence on the construction of the 2nd runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja following the signing of an agreement on compensation to the Jiwa Community on whose land the runway will be constructed.
According to a statement by the director of press in Wike’s office, an agreement signed between the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Jiwa community in the FCT, on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, a sum of Eight Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Eight Hundred and Nineteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eleven Naira Forty-Three Kobo (N825, 819,911.43) would be paid to the community as compensation to pave way for the commencement of work on the project.
Speaking on the agreement reached, the FCT Minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, assured that the money has been made available and will get to all affected in the next few days.
He said, “As we leave here, the Federal Capital Territory through the FCDA will release the money approved for compensation and resettlement of those who are there. The total value of what we are paying is N825, 819,911.43 for the compensation and resettlement.”
The contract for the construction of the second runway of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport was awarded in March 2022 by the Ministry of Aviation and Aero Space Development, but work could not commence due to disagreements over issues of resettlement and compensation.
However, following the signing of the agreement between the FCTA and the Jiwa community, the FCT Minister, Barrister Wike, says contractors will now move to site in the next few days to commence work on the project, after the payment of the agreed sum to the community.
Barrister Wike who spoke shortly after a meeting between the FCT Administration, the Ministry of Aviation and Aero Space Development, as well as representatives of the Jiwa Community at the FCDA Conference Room in Abuja, expressed gratitude to God for the amicable resolution of the contending issues.
The Minister appreciated the Sarkin Jiwa, HRH, Alhaji Idris Musa, for mobilising his people to resolve the issues, stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the Ministry of Aviation to kick-start and complete the second runway project, which is very vital for the international airport in the FCT.
Barrister Wike also disclosed that as part of incentives to the community, the FCT Administration will give immediate employment to 10 indigenes of the Jiwa community, while another 12 will come from the Ministry of Aviation and the Aviation Agencies.
He further assured that the FCT Administration will include the rehabilitation of the Tunga Madaki bridge in Jiwa community in the 2024 budget, in addition to the provision of a modern healthcare facility.
The FCT Minister said, “We are going to construct Tunga Madaki bridge which will be put in 2024 budget. Secondly, we are going to provide for the community, a modern healthcare facility that is better than what is there now”.
“We believe by the grace God, if that is done today and then tomorrow or next tomorrow, the money is paid to them, the contractors will no longer delay. They have to move to the site immediately and commence work. The second runway has come to stay”.
Earlier in his remark, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo (SAN) disclosed that work ought to have started on the second runway project but regretted that contractors could not be mobilized to site due to the contending issues.
Barrister Keyamo called on the community to cooperate with the government to ensure the realization of the project, adding that they also stand to benefit from the development in the area in addition to other corporate social responsibility to the community.
Also speaking the Sarkin Jiwa, HRH Alhaji Idris Musa assured of the cooperation and support of the Jiwa community towards the actualization of the project which, he said, is in the overriding interest of the public.
During the signing ceremony, between the FCTA, Ministry of Aviation and the Jiwa Community, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola said that the compensation was for enumerated communities in Jiwa which still had one community -Angwan Kano- yet to be enumerated. On conclusion of the enumeration, the said community will also be compensated.