‘They’re eyesores’ – Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi seeks demolition of settlements near Abuja airport (video)

Senor Onyekachi Nwaebonyi who represents Ebonyi north in the Senate, has called for the relocation of occupants of settlements located around the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, describing the area as an “eyesore”.

While speaking during plenary last Thursday, Nwaebonyi who serves as the deputy chief whip of the senate added that the communities portray the nation in bad light. He appealed to the Minister of the FCT to include the beautification of those communities into the budget of the FCT as they are not a sight to behold whenever visitors are descending into the FCT via the airport.

“I want the FCT minister to extend his development of the FCT within the surroundings of Abuja airport. If you are descending into the airport, the type of infrastructure within the environs does not represent a good image of Nigeria, and I think that the FCT minister should capture that in his next budget to either relocate the habitats or renew the area, because the buildings in the community are the mirror of the country.

As you descend into the Abuja airport, if you consider the view, you will agree with me that it is an eyesore and doesn’t give a good image of the nation.

I urge all my colleagues to support this important bill that will transform the country.” he said

Senate president , Akpabio who appeared puzzled by his colleague’s proposal. said;

“Senator Nwaebonyi, 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 a road completed with streetlights particularly in the night. Very beautiful.”

Nwaebonyi doubled down by saying he was referring to “shanties at the back of the Abuja airport”.

Akpabio who disagreed with his suggestion, said

“This community is some people’s village. The image of the nation does not start from when your airplane is descending. So, what happens in a place like Akwa Ibom… when you descend, you see water and creeks. So we should eliminate the creeks in this case?”

Nwaebonyi’s proposal went through a voice vote with the “nays” trumping the “ayes”. The bill was thereafter shot down by the presiding officer’s gavel.

Watch a clip of him making the presentation in the Senate below

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