Mr Nwebonyi, who represents Ebonyi North Senatorial District, made the call during the plenary while contributing to the debate on the 2025 statutory budget of the FCT.
The senator said some of the structures around the airport do not project a positive image of Nigeria to visitors flying into the capital, describing the communities as an eyesore.
"I want the FCT minister to extend the infrastructural development of the FCT within the surroundings of the Abuja airport. If you’re descending into Abuja airport, the inhabitants, the type of infrastructure within the environs does not represent the good image of this country, and I think that the FCT minister should capture it in their next budget.” He said
Several informal settlements are located along the Abuja airport road. The residents of such communities include locals who consider them their ancestral home as well as low-income earners unable to afford the exorbitant rent in many parts of the Nigerian capital.
Responding, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, questioned the rationale behind Mr Nwebonyi’s call, asking for clarification on the specific location being referenced.
“Senator Nwebonyi, which part of the airport? If you’re coming from the airport, the first place you see on the right is the presidential wing, thereafter you will come across a very beautiful flyover, you’ll now descend towards the road that comes to the airport when you get to the airport road, you’ll see road completed with streetlights particularly in the night, very beautiful,” Mr Akpabio asked.
In response, Mr Nwebonyi said he was referring to
“shanties at the back of the Abuja airport.”
The senate president then told the senator that those communities are people’s homes and that the owners of the shanties built what they could afford.
“When you’re inside the plane? That is somebody’s village. The owners of those houses, that’s what they can afford. Are you saying we should go to those places and evacuate them so that when your plane is coming, you’ll see high rises? You’re talking about when you look from the window, you want to see beautiful Chinese infrastructure but that place belongs to people,” Mr Akpabio said
Despite the senate president’s comments, Mr Nwebonyi insisted that the area lies within the capital and should, therefore, be developed.
Afterwards, Mr Akpabio put Mr Nwebonyi’s proposal to a vote, and the majority of the senators opposed it through a voice vote.
Mr Akpabio subsequently ruled Mr Nwebonyi out of order.
The senator said some of the structures around the airport do not project a positive image of Nigeria to visitors flying into the capital, describing the communities as an eyesore.
"I want the FCT minister to extend the infrastructural development of the FCT within the surroundings of the Abuja airport. If you’re descending into Abuja airport, the inhabitants, the type of infrastructure within the environs does not represent the good image of this country, and I think that the FCT minister should capture it in their next budget.” He said
Several informal settlements are located along the Abuja airport road. The residents of such communities include locals who consider them their ancestral home as well as low-income earners unable to afford the exorbitant rent in many parts of the Nigerian capital.
Responding, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, questioned the rationale behind Mr Nwebonyi’s call, asking for clarification on the specific location being referenced.
“Senator Nwebonyi, which part of the airport? If you’re coming from the airport, the first place you see on the right is the presidential wing, thereafter you will come across a very beautiful flyover, you’ll now descend towards the road that comes to the airport when you get to the airport road, you’ll see road completed with streetlights particularly in the night, very beautiful,” Mr Akpabio asked.
In response, Mr Nwebonyi said he was referring to
“shanties at the back of the Abuja airport.”
The senate president then told the senator that those communities are people’s homes and that the owners of the shanties built what they could afford.
“When you’re inside the plane? That is somebody’s village. The owners of those houses, that’s what they can afford. Are you saying we should go to those places and evacuate them so that when your plane is coming, you’ll see high rises? You’re talking about when you look from the window, you want to see beautiful Chinese infrastructure but that place belongs to people,” Mr Akpabio said
Despite the senate president’s comments, Mr Nwebonyi insisted that the area lies within the capital and should, therefore, be developed.
Afterwards, Mr Akpabio put Mr Nwebonyi’s proposal to a vote, and the majority of the senators opposed it through a voice vote.
Mr Akpabio subsequently ruled Mr Nwebonyi out of order.
All they care about is aesthetics. No iota of empathy for the populace.
ReplyDeleteYou want to take the people away from their ancestral homes and relocate them to a deep forest where they'll face herdsmen and bandits.
All these, so you can build fancy Estates, which would only be accessible to you and your cronies.
The guts of some of these politicians!
You can, but make sure you provide alternative accommodation.
ReplyDeleteThat is what a good leader does.
Why should they be shifted out of their ancestral land because one senator wants aesthetics.
DeleteWhat stopped him from saying the lives of the villagers be improved. Their suffering condition didn't touch his mind instead he is asking they drive them away.
Very wicked and thoughtless man. I am proud of the reply the Senate president gave him.
Really out of order!
ReplyDeleteSo with all the obvious pressing issues in tge country that need immediate attention, Airport ambience is his prerogative,smh🤦♀️
Just Imagine!
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you at all!
Nwa Abakaliki that came to Abuja
Mtcheewwwwwww 😡
Exactly, go to his constituency and see mud houses everywhere. It’s Abuja own that irritates him. Na people that voted him I blame.
DeleteI was just shaking my head for the senator proposing nonsense......
ReplyDeleteI love the response from the Senate president and others.
Irresponsible comment !
ReplyDeleteHe lacks empathy 😔
ReplyDeleteSP Akpabio being fair against his henchman.
ReplyDeleteHas he started listening to the people?
Or have we been misjudging him?
Or is this the effect of Sista Natasha's verbalrations?
Time will tell
Hmmmmmn
Heartless man, you want them rendered homeless, then you and your family will sit in your beautiful mansion and pop your champugugu.
ReplyDeleteThis is a case of mgbeke feeling funky, he was not born with a silver spoon either.
ReplyDeleteNo bé juju be that. Mad man
ReplyDelete