Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his counterpart in the Aviation and Aerospace Development Ministry, Festus Keyamo, recently engaged with the Jiwa community in Abuja.

Following the meeting, attended by ministry officials and agency representatives, Wike disclosed a compensation of N825.819 million for Jiwa residents. This compensation aims to encourage their relocation and cooperation in completing the 4.2 km second runway at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The project was initially awarded in 2022.

Furthermore, Wike revealed plans for FCT to construct a 5 km bridge in the Tunga Madaki community and establish a modern healthcare facility to temporarily resettle the indigenes.

Wike urged contractors to resume work, assuring the funds' release by Wednesday. The Jiwa community had initially sought N2.5 million per hectare as compensation during negotiations with the Federal Government.

In a Twitter post, Keyamo also confirmed a peaceful resolution with Wike, addressing compensation and related issues that had hindered the second runway construction at Abuja International Airport.

He said: “Yesterday, my colleague in the FCT Ministry, his Minister of State and I met with the Sarki of Jiwa and representatives of the community within the FCT and peacefully resolved the issues of compensation and ancillary matters that hindered the commencement of the construction of the second runway at the Abuja International Airport.

“We announced the full package of compensation by the FG, which they accepted. The contractors are expected to immediately mobilize to the site.”