The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration (FCTA) will pay N825.8 million as compensation for the construction of second runway for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Wike stated this while briefing newsmen at the end of a closed-door meeting with members of the Jiwa community and other stakeholders in Abuja on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.

The minister said the amount would be paid through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) for compensation and resettlement of the people of the community affected by the project.

He added that as part of the incentive, 12 people from the community would be employed by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and its agencies and 10 by FCTA.

Wike stated that the government would also construct the Tunga Madaki bridge alongside a five-kilometre road from the bridge to the community for easy movement of the people.

The minister noted that the project would be captured in the 2024 budget of the FCTA.

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Wike said the FCTA would equally provide a modern health facility to provide quality health care services for people of the community, adding that an undertaking would be signed based on the agreement between the government and the community.

He identified the signatories as the permanent secretaries of FCTA and ministry of aviation, the Chief of Jiwa, the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Council, and the Commissioner of Public Complaint Commission.

Wike said: “If that is done today, and tomorrow or next tomorrow the money is paid to them, contractors will no longer delay. They have to move to the site immediately and commence work.

“So, the second runway has come to stay.”

Wike, who the current administration was determined to ensure that the second runway was delivered, commended the Chief of Jiwa, Alhaji Isa Idris, for mobilising his people to attend the meeting to resolve the crises.

Also speaking, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said he met the issue on his table, adding that the project ought to have been delivered in July 2023.

Keyamo stated that the contractors could not be mobilised because of the issue of compensation.

On his part, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, said the completion of the project requires the support of all relevant stakeholders.

Adesola, however, commended Wike for the intervention to ensure a quick resolution of the issue.

The Star