In a statement released by President Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidency stated that some states and communities are frustrating some Federal Government projects by making unreasonable demands for land compensation and chasing away contractors when they are unable to meet such demands.
He said “The idea of chasing away contractors on site or making undue demands from them by local communities or the deliberate actions of State governments to frustrate the allocation of lands for federal projects is an antithesis of the people’s welfare. In a recent directive to Ministers, the President requested Ministers in his government to have the states clear all lingering land issues threatening federal projects under their supervision or have such projects moved to willing states where that becomes impossible. By denying Federal government lands for projects and creating unnecessary obstacles for the execution of these projects, it may be unfair to turn around and accuse the same Federal government of marginalising people in terms of projects allocation. When it comes to the welfare of the people, governments at all levels should be united by the common goal of improving the well being of the people, regardless of political affiliation. It is, therefore, impossible to spread Federal government projects when petty demands or politics is allowed to override the higher interest of the people.”