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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Jabi Lake Development Will Proceed, FCT Minister Wike Vows Despite Pleas

From The Punch · (4m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rejected calls to reverse the government's decision to develop Jabi Lake.
  • Wike dismissed emotional appeals, including a pastor kneeling to beg him, stating that policy decisions are not swayed by such sentiments.
  • He explained that the government revoked the previous allocation due to lack of development and intends to bring in new investors capable of transforming the area.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has firmly stood his ground against public appeals to halt the development plans for Jabi Lake, dismissing pleas as emotional and inconsistent with Abuja's land-use regulations. Wike's resolute stance came in response to a viral video showing Sarah Omakwu, Senior Pastor of Family Worship Centre, kneeling to implore him not to concession the Jabi Lake recreation area.

I cannot fight the minister of the FCT. I cannot. But I go on my knees as a mother in this land that Jabi Lake Recreation Centre should not be given to anybody.

— Sarah OmakwuSarah Omakwu, Senior Pastor of Family Worship Centre, made an emotional plea to Minister Wike to reconsider the development plans for Jabi Lake.

Wike's response was direct and unyielding. He stated, "I do not get carried away by such emotions. Kneeling to do what? How is Jabi land your own?" He emphasized that the land belongs to the government and its development must serve the collective interest, not individual sentiments or past arrangements that have yielded no results.

You talked about a woman kneeling begging. I do not get carried away by such emotions. Kneeling to do what? How is Jabi land your own?

— Nyesom WikeFCT Minister Nyesom Wike dismissed the emotional appeal, emphasizing that policy decisions are based on regulations, not sentiment.

The Minister elaborated on the rationale behind the government's decision, citing the mismanagement of the Jabi Lake area under a previous 15-16 year allocation. He observed that despite promises of investment and transformation into an entertainment center, the area was characterized by shanties. "You cannot allocate land and leave it for that long with nothing to show. We revoked it. Now we want to give it to people who are ready to develop it," Wike asserted, highlighting the need for tangible progress.

When I came on board, I discovered that Jabi Lake had been given to one company for 15 or 16 years without any development.

— Nyesom WikeWike explained the government's decision to revoke the previous allocation due to a lack of progress and development.

To ensure accountability, Wike assured that the new allocation would come with strict conditions. "If there is no development within the specified time, we will take it back," he vowed, indicating a zero-tolerance policy for stagnation. This firm approach signals a departure from previous management practices and a commitment to actualizing the potential of Jabi Lake as a developed public space.

To show that it is not personal, we will reallocate the land with clear conditions. If there is no development within the specified time, we will take it back.

— Nyesom WikeThe Minister outlined the strict conditions that will be imposed on new investors for the Jabi Lake development.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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