NAN-H-57
Demolition
Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni/Jessica Dogo
Abuja, Jan. 26, 2018 (NAN) Residents of Tudunwada Community of Lugbe Federal Housing FCT on Friday protested over non-payment of compensation for resettlement by Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and threat of demolition.
Some of the residents, who came out in large number protested over the threat by Development Control of FCT to demolish their houses on Jan. 29, without any resettlement plan in place.
The Community Chairman, Mr Steve Odiaka, said the TCN came in 2016 to map out their community for Sub-station Development, a World Bank project and they agreed to relocate if compensated.
He said TCN had earlier valued their property for compensation, adding although most of the houses were undervalued, they still accepted the values placed on them.
He said the residents were protesting because the matter was pending in the Federal High Court and their compensation for resettlement was yet to be paid.
“We are protesting today because we are citizens of this country and they want to displace us and our families, TCN said they want to use our community for sub-station.
“A project by World Bank, which we accepted based on their plan to compensate us for resettlement and they eventually mapped out our houses and brought the price for everyone’s house.
“Some residents’ four bedroom flat were valued for N600, 000, some schools with big compound and 10 classrooms were valued for N1 million and in spite of the poor valuation, we accepted.
“We were yet to be paid the compensation after we signed on those document in 2016, now Development Control officers came last week that they will start the demolition from next week Monday, that is why we are protesting.’’
Odiaka said they had been writing to the Minister of Power, Work and Housing, the management of TCN and FCT Minister, there had not been any response.
He said the children in the community had not been going to school regularly because of uncertainty as when the demolitions would begin, and pleaded with the government to resolve the issue amicably.
The Managing Director of TCN, Mr Usman Mohammed, who was represented by Assistant General Manager, Security, Mr Ibrahim said the organisation was aware of the situation, adding that a meeting had been fixed for Jan. 30.
He said the organisation had also confirmed that the matter was genuine and was putting in place a plan to compensate those involved.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesters and their children were displaying placards with inscriptions like ”TCN pay us our compensation”, “TCN respect court order”, “Development Control, leave us alone”, “Fashola pay us our compensation”, among others. (NAN)
TY/JEZ/AAB/GY
=============
Edited by Adeboye Ajayi/Grace Yussuf