The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has promised indigenous people of Tunga-Maje in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) that the problem of their disputed parcel of land allegedly encroached upon by the Nigerian Army would be resolved amicably by the highest authorities.
Aliyu, made the promise when she visited portion of the disputed land.
Mr Austen Elemue, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
The minister also assured the people that justice would be done to both parties.
She commended the community for not taking laws into its hands and assured that adequate compensation would be made to the natives, if it was eventually discovered that the disputed land had been allocated to the Nigerian Army.
“I must sincerely extend my appreciation to both the chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council and Abuja Municipal Area Council for calling on FCT Administration and the trust that the administration can resolve this lingering land dispute.
“I must also appreciate the Agura of Zuba and the indigenous people of Tunga-maje for your calm conducts. You have demonstrated that you are indeed law abiding citizens.
” From the narration of the Agura, it has been a painful moment, but hopefully this time around, we will be able to take it to the appropriate quarters where the needful will be done.
“If indeed the land is allocated from the federal authorities to the Nigerian Army, of course consideration must be made for a new place to relocate to and of course to settle you by compensation.
“But before then, we will not jump the gun. Therefore, we want you to be law abiding as we go back to revisit the issues. Justice must be done. I want to appeal to you to be law abiding because the matter is not beyond the authorities to handle,” Aliyu assured.
Earlier, the Chairman, Gwagwalada Area Council, Mr Adamu Danze, said that since his inauguration as chairman of the council four years ago, the battle to reclaim the disputed land from the Nigerian Army has been vehemently resisted with its attendant casualties.
Danze, said that in spite of the intervention of the National Assembly through various public hearings, innocent lives had been loss.
The council boss, therefore, appealed to FCT Minister of State and other relevant authorities to use their good offices to resolve the issue.
” We have been battling with this issue to the extent that lives are loss. We are in pain over this matter and we are appealing to you to take further action,” he said.
The minister was received by the Agura of Zuba, Mohammad Umar Bello.
