Wike Vows to Demolish Illegal Shanties in Abuja, Says Poverty no Excuse

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has once again defended his stance on the demolition of shanties across Abuja, insisting that such settlements are illegal and must be cleared out.

Speaking during a live media chat on Monday, Wike dismissed criticisms, stressing that the makeshift structures were not only an eyesore but also dangerous to public safety.

“When you say shanties, are shanties legal? You see, we cannot joke with the security. You have complained about insecurity, kidnapping, and ‘one-chance’. These are people who occupy all these shanties. In fact, sometimes, they take over the corridors where the road is supposed to pass. And when you want to do road, they say, ‘compensate’. Compensate who? It is not correct. Mind you, criminals don’t stay where you will locate them. Criminals stay in these locations where you cannot locate them,” he said.

The minister maintained that removing illegal occupants was a matter of necessity, not choice.

“We’re going to make sure that all illegal occupants of anywhere will be thrown out. It’s unfortunate. There’s nothing we can do about it because security is paramount. Any government that cannot provide security for citizens has no business in government. You see, we have to be careful about this poverty thing and no poverty thing,” Wike stated.

When asked what the administration was doing to help those who resort to shanties due to poverty and high rent in Abuja, he ruled out the idea of government providing homes for all citizens.

“We cannot say because of poverty, we should allow you to kill people, to rob people, to kidnap people. That’s not allowed; it defaces the city, and that is why we have asked people who claim that this land belongs to them, or sometimes, why they are not developing the land. Why are you making it possible for these criminals to come and settle here and cause problems for the city?” he added.

Wike recalled that earlier in March 2025, he directed the demolition of structures obstructing road projects in Gishiri, Katampe area of Abuja, after residents ignored a three-month grace period to vacate. Similarly, in December 2024, he defended earlier demolitions of properties, describing the exercise as a necessary enforcement against illegal development on government land.

“Let me use this opportunity to tell Nigerians and residents of Abuja, we are not afraid of blackmail. In fact, you cannot be in this kind of position and say you cannot be blackmailed, particularly as regards this Abuja. There are so many land grabbers. Some of us have come to put our feet down. Let heaven fall. It is even better that heaven comes down now so that we would not be fasting again to go to heaven,” Wike declared during a ceremony where security agencies received new operational vehicles.