Reports on 6000 houses demolition, N300m vehicle false

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has labelled reports that the FCT Minister planned to demolish 6000 houses in 30 communities as “false” and “sensationalist”.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary of the FCT, Anthony Ogunleye, on Wednesday.

The statement also denied reports that the FCT Minister owned an armoured N300m Lexus LX 600, stating that the vehicle was only a “regular SUV.”

On both reports, Ogunleye stated, “These stories are entirely false and without any basis in reality,” adding that the minister neither pronounced the number of houses to be demolished nor in what communities the exercise would happen.

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Part of the statement reads, “For the avoidance of doubt, the minister did not in any of his pronouncements, list the areas or the number of illegal houses to be removed, rather his emphasis has always been that illegal settlements and structures would be removed for the greater good of the public.

“The Honourable Minister has consistently demonstrated a commitment to responsible urban development and the welfare of the people even while he was the governor of Rivers State, a commitment he has assured residents within the FCT since he assumed office as minister. The claim that he is orchestrating large-scale demolitions is not only inaccurate but also lacks credibility.”

He further described as “equally vexing,” a report that had stated the minister would fix Abuja in six days, adding that Wike had, at no time, said or alluded to the phrase in any way.

The Chief Press Secretary admonished newsmen, bloggers and media outlets to verify information before disseminating it to the public, adding that fabricated stories “only serve to damage the reputation of respected public figures and create unnecessary anxiety amongst the citizenry.”

The statement also emphasised that the minister remained steadfast in his dedication to improving the quality of life for all residents of the FCT, and that any claims to the contrary were “purely the result of misinformation and should be treated as such.”