Wike Orders People Living Under Bridges in Abuja To Vacate

The Minister of FCT, Nyesome Ezenwo Wike, have issued a one-week ultimatum to squatters who  taking refuge under bridges in Garki, Wuse and Maitama districts in Abuja, to move out or be forcefully removed.

Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Environmental and Waste Management, Dr Fred Kpakol, gave the notice in Abuja while sensitising the illegal occupants on government decision to clear the areas.


The authority reitrated that some of the areas taken over by the occupants were supposed to be green areas but turned into slums.

He alleged that apart from carrying out nefarious activities in the city, the squatters were also in the habit of burning firewood in the night to light up the areas, cook and other practices that affect the lifespan of the bridges.

Fred Kpakol warned that after the end of the one-week ultimatum, every tent under the bridges would be demolished.

“You are aware of the prevailing kidnappings and other atrocities people commit from different places and run to take refuge under the bridges. This is unacceptable.

“This is because the security of the city is very important. As such, anybody that comes here to stay must have to leave.

“We have given them one week, within which we will come and evacuate them from these places,” he said.

On his part, Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement, AEPB, Mr Kaka Bello, pointed out some of the affected bridges as the bridge close to Transcorp Hilton on Ademola Adetokumbo way, and the Park Way Bridge close to Wuse market, bridge along Ahmadu Bello Way close to Diamond Bank Junction and the bridge along Muhammadu Buhari Way.

One of the squatters, Iya Gizo, a widow from Nasarawa State, said that she was living under the bridge because she had nowhere to go.

She pleaded on the government to provide an alternative area for them to relocate to.

Another occupants, Mr Emmanuel Abraham, an artisan operating under the bridge near City Park in Wuse II, appealed for government support to enable him find a suitable place to carry out his business.

NAN