The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has condemned the planned demolition of illegal structures in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had vowed to demolish all illegal buildings and structures, as part of efforts to restore the Abuja Master Plan. He also threatened to revoke lands that were allocated, but not developed and reclaim uncompleted buildings that had become a safe haven for criminals.

Wike vowed not to spare anyone, irrespective of status, who had distorted the master plan, encroached the green areas and would also ban motorcycle and tricycle operators, open grazing, roadside markets in the FCT.

However, speaking at the NLC National Symposium in Abuja on Thursday, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said the planned demolition was a war against the poor and a violation of their human rights.

Ajaero, who Spoke on the theme, “Nigerian Economy and the Crisis of Survival: Robbing the Poor to Pay the Rich”, urged Wike to halt his plans unless there were alternative shelters for the affected poor.

“The new attack by Wike to drive the poor out of Abuja, it’s a war where they tell you that you build in a place that is not part of the master plan, the master plan is only known to them.

“The NLC is saying that those structures are not illegal, those structures should be made legal unless there is alternative to them.

“There is no area they map out, either quarter plot or half plot for the poor to build in Abuja and when the poor manage to get small shelter, it’s been demolished on daily basis. It is a war against the poor.

“The number of people Adolf Hitler killed under a gas chamber will be a child play for people who will die because of shock over demolition”, Ajaero added.

[TheWill]