Senator’s call for demolition near Abuja airport sparks controversy

DDM News

A video has stirred controversy over a Senate debate about Abuja’s airport surroundings.

Senator Peter Nwaebonyi called on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to demolish a village near the Abuja airport, Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathers.

He argued that the area does not reflect the image of a modern Nigeria for visitors arriving in the capital.

The senator praised Minister Wike’s “total infrastructural transformation” of the FCT and called for continued development.

Nwaebonyi urged the Senate to support a bill allowing Wike to sustain his infrastructural projects across the capital.

He said the environment around Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport gives a poor impression of the country to visitors.

“This is the first sight of Nigeria for many,” he said, stressing the need for aesthetic improvement.

He added that development should extend to communities near the airport and requested budgetary inclusion for that purpose.

Nwaebonyi insisted that even if not included now, the airport area’s development should feature in the next budget.

However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio interrupted the session to challenge the proposal’s impact on local residents.

“This is somebody’s village,” Akpabio said, emphasizing that the structures are homes, not just visual blight.

He questioned if demolishing communities for better views from planes justified displacing citizens from their homes.

Akpabio cautioned the Senate against prioritizing aesthetics over the welfare and dignity of ordinary Nigerians.

“Yes, national image matters,” he said, “but what becomes of the people who live there?”

The exchange exposed a growing tension between urban modernization and social inclusion within Nigeria’s capital.

Many fear the FCT’s beautification efforts could lead to widespread displacement of long-standing, lower-income communities.

Under Wike, the FCT administration has pursued aggressive development policies praised for improving Abuja’s global image.

However, critics warn such rapid transformation risks marginalizing the poor and vulnerable residents of the city.

The Senate debate ended without a clear decision on whether the communities would be demolished or preserved.

Still, Nwaebonyi’s remarks have sparked intense public debate, especially on online platforms.

Opinions remain split, some support modernization, while others defend the rights of communities near the airport.

As discussions continue, attention is fixed on how the Senate and FCT minister will address this issue.

Diaspora Digital Media DDM will provide ongoing coverage of this developing story and its impact on local communities.

Kindly share!!

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook