Halt the demolition of Mpape!

This petition is aimed at drawing global attention on the actions of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) of Nigeria which has commenced a policy of mass demolition in the village of Mpape. This policy has been driven from the very top of the administration led by Senator Bala Mohammed, Minster of the FCT. In addition to legal action already underway, a campaign of social pressure from both within Nigeria and internationally must be initiated to compel the honourable Minister to reconsider his approach in dealing with the Mpape issue.

In early July, 2012 residents of Mpape were notified of their village’s impending demolition when agents of the FCTA made their way through the alleys and painted large red Xs along people’s homes. The residents of Mpape have not been offered compensation for their seized lands or any alternative accommodations. This is in contradiction to Section 44 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution which provides for both of these remedies. They have been informed that they have until August 31st, 2012 to vacate the premises.

The village of Mpape is located only five kilometers from the city centre, and has a population of well over 500,000. The residents of this village purchased their land from the Bwari Area Council, who inhabited Abuja prior to its foundation. The land allocated to many residents may not amount to more than the space needed for a one-room dwelling, but these accommodations provide needed shelter for both the professionals and labourers who contribute to Abuja’s growth.

The people of Mpape took the FCTA to court but failed in their suit as the application was declined. It was determined that the residents have not demonstrated adequate title to the land under their possession. On August 17th, the High Court of Bwari allowed the resident’s application for appeal. Both courts have compelled all parties to not take the law into their own hands and to wait until these legal issues are resolved. The case is set to resume on October 17th, 2012.

The FCTA has already ignored court orders and commenced the demolition of the village on August 16, 2012, two weeks ahead of schedule. Bulldozers, escorted by the police and military arrived in the late morning when residents were at work nearly two hours away. The FCTA knew they would make residents choose between their employment and their home. By commencing the destruction of the village, the FCTA hopes to achieve a ‘fait accompli’, making any further resistance redundant.

Security personnel also stifled freedom of information by confiscating and destroying cameras recording the scene. The village’s market and hundreds of homes have already been demolished, but much of the village still stands. The Attorney General of Nigeria and the Minister of Justice have both denounced the acts of the FCTA. Public attention needs to be drawn to this behaviour so that the FCTA does not try to subvert the legal process once again.

While the FCTA has justified the demolition on the grounds of health and safety, it is widely expected that the homes located within Mpape are being cleared to simply make way for new luxury mansions and estates. Abuja is a very wealthy city, it has been built on money extracted from Africa’s most significant oil sector. Mpape is located a stone-throw’s distance from one of the most highly developed areas of Abuja. With the construction of a new road-way and the basic infrastructure which it currently lacks, Mpape will boast one of the finest views of the city.
The survival of Mpape is tied to the well-being over 500,000 people. As one of the most expensive cities in the entire world there are no other alternatives for people who barely have the means to afford basic necessities. Poverty in the rural sector is more extreme and the country-side has been prone to exceptional violence over the last year. The exodus of Mpape’s villagers will only compound the issues of insecurity already prevailing in Nigeria.