The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended his administration’s projects in Abuja, insisting that residents can clearly see and feel the impact of government development efforts.
In a video shared by AIT News, speaking during the commissioning of a road project in the FCT, Wike responded to a group of protesters carrying placards at the venue. He argued that attempts to discredit his administration would not succeed because of the visible projects being executed across the territory.
The minister explained that during the construction of the road, some members of the affected community initially opposed the project over concerns about compensation for demolished properties. According to him, he personally met with community members and directed relevant officials to address the issue.
Wike stated that compensation was paid only to individuals whose properties were directly affected by the project. He maintained that the government does not distribute money indiscriminately during development projects and challenged anyone with evidence to the contrary to come forward.
He also dismissed the protest as an attempt to attract media attention, insisting that such actions would not overshadow the achievements of his administration.
The minister urged residents with concerns or requests to engage with his office through proper channels. He said he remains willing to assist people where necessary but would not respond to pressure, intimidation, or what he described as blackmail tactics.
In his words, “If you want any help from me or what you think we should do, come properly, I’ll do it for you, but if it’s by carrying blackmail, no way. It doesn’t work.”