Lt General Tukur Buratai: Chief of Army Staff

The Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, on Monday called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA) and the Nigerian Army to resolve the issue of acquisition of 238 hectares of land in Maitama Extension District, Abuja.

Chairman of the committee, Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi) made the call at a meeting with the FCT Minister, Malam Mohammed Bello and the Chief of Army of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

Melaye said that on Sept. 13, 2016, the Army “without any provocation, deployed soldiers to the land and drove away workers of a construction company engaged in a project there.

“Access to the site was out-rightly denied and all equipment and trucks have been trapped in the district to date,” he said.

He, however, said that the committee would do its best toward improving the quality of life of residents of the territory.

“Our activities in this committee draw authority, power and legitimacy to run the affairs of the FCT for the people.

“This is to ensure that the powers so enjoyed by the government are not misused,” he said.

The lawmaker said that as the people’s representatives, members of the committee would do everything to protect the interest of every Nigerian.

“Nonetheless, no Nigerian who was allocated land there ab initio will lose their kobo.

“We will also protect the Nigerian Army as an institution, to make sure that their territories are clearly demarcated from civilian interference.”

Melaye used the forum to condole the Army over the death of Lt. Col. Abu Ali, who was killed by Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday, saying the Army was greatly appreciated for its efforts at ensuring security of Nigerians.

In his remarks, FCT Minister said that the area in contention was “actually an area earmarked for the Nigerian Army”.

“The FCT Administration has receipt of payment from the allottees to the tune of about N5.6 billion,” he said.

Bello appealed to the committee for more discussion with the Army to reach a solution that met the needs of the military.

“We will also ensure that those who were allocated plots in that area and made financial commitments do not lose their commitment.”

He said that due to the land acquisition, the administration was working towards identifying all available military lands.

“Our intention is that at the highest level we will discuss how to work out the requirements of the military, how it will be in years to come so that this land will be secured,’’ he stressed.

The minister added that the FCTA would also ensure that the genuine desires of the military for barracks, for sporting facilities as well as areas for tactical manoeuvres would be taken care of so that what had happened will not repeat.

“We are all part of one government and the whole idea is to be able to meet the yearnings and aspirations of citizens,” he said.

Contributing, Buratai said that the Army was a service of sacrifice.

“We are ever ready to sacrifice our lives in the course of bringing peace and security in our country,” he said, adding that members of Nigerian Army were citizens of FCT and law-abiding.

He described the National Assembly as one of the symbols of Nigeria’s democracy and that the army was always ready to subject itself to the symbol of authority and to all the tenets of democracy.

“We will ensure that all kinds of aggression, including internal insecurity and challenges are tackled.”(NAN)