THE NATION
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, May 9, advised traders against arbitrary protest in the nation’s capital.
Wike warned that there should be due process before any protest is embarked upon.
Without the above steps, the minister said the act would be considered an attempt to intimidate the government.
The minister was reacting to the action of traders from the Apo Mechanic village, who besieged the entrance of the FCTA secretariat, demanding that the FCT minister sign the lease agreement to enable them to move to their permanent site at Wassa District.
The traders who carried different placards commending the developmental strides of the Minister, however, appealed to him to sign the lease agreement which was entered into in 2015.
The chairman of the association, Chimezie Ife, said his members were tired of waiting since 2006 to be allocated their permanent business environment, having spent over N100 million.
He explained that since 2006 when the old Apo mechanic village was demolished with a promise for a permanent location, they waited until 2011 when they applied for land, but were forced to spend over N100 million over time by officials of the Administration.
Despite the efforts and expenses, he lamented that the traders are yet to be allocated their land. This, he added, had prompted a series of demonstrations against the administration with the hope the current FCT minister, Nyesom Wike would address the lingering issue.
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