By ESV. EDDY IGBINIDION
A significant proclamation made by Nigeria government in 1976 when it chose to move the Federal Capital of Nigeria from Lagos to Abuja was for total migration of the whole occupants outside the new Federal Capital Territory of around 8000 square kilometres. This was done to liberate the territory from any primordial sentiment and to empower the government to take effective control, plan and build the new city with no encumbrances.
In any case a cautious calculation later uncovered that the figure to be moved was much. As at then, the population figure was around 300,000 individuals and the expense for the exercise was more than N2b
Thus, there was a re-evaluation that evacuating such tremendous populace was believed to be rash and could have postponed the take-off of the scheme. It was then agreed that the occupants should remain, however, could be resettled within any area of the Federal Capital Territory should their place of residence be involved in the city advancement plan. This arrangement led to the resettlement of individuals to neighboring Nasarawa and Niger States and eventually aggravated the issues of squatters and land administration inside the FCT
Generally, resettlement whether in the form of voluntary and involuntary always has its repercussions for the displaced persons and the organization or government initiating the idea of resettlement. The group of people being compelled to pave way for ‘development’ will unavoidably encounter a decrease in their standard of living Notwithstanding, the above-mentioned, they remain to lose their abode and socio-economic and cultural assets. The displaced community, for instance, will suffer from loss of economic opportunities as businesses lose their customer base, productive farmlands and other forms of livelihoods will also be dismantled.
If the need for resettlement is for developmental purpose and the benefits of the larger society, then it is inevitable for resettlement to take place. What matters most in this case is how the resettlement strategies are structured (i.e. presence of efficient and effective frameworks to plan and implement it) so that it will have a reduced-adverse effect on the affected people and the environment. In line with this view, the government has initiated several policy strategies in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria to cushion the adverse effects of the resettlement programmes. Different policy ideas have been tried out towards the resettlement of the inhabitants of FCT between 1976 and 2015, barely four decades. Strategies ranging from integration , total resettlement and partial resettlement have all been implemented . However, it appears that FCDA does not have a consistent policy direction
Resettlement Strategies:
Total Resettlement: The complete relocation of an entire community to a new site. Residents favour this because it keeps their cultures safe from outside influence
Partial Resettlement: Moving only a part of the community or having close ties with urban areas. Residents like this because it keeps them connected to modern civilization
Integration: Mixing displaced locals with existing urban or new mixed settlement. Communities strongly reject this strategy
Community Felt-Needs;
Cultural preservation: Indigenous group want to practice their traditions without interference
Basic infrastructure: Communities need functional roads, clean water, health care and schools
Livelihood Support: Resettled farmers and fishermen require tools and economic aid to replace lost income
Key Implementation Challenges:
Poor Consultation: Authorities often use a top-down approach without involving the local people in planning
Corruption: Mismanagement of funds weakens the quality of housing and infrastructure
Inadequate funding/ fund release; Shortages in government budgets and inadequate fund release stall project completion
From the foregoing, total and partial resettlements as policy strategies are recommended and mobilization of adequate fund for resettlement exercise should be encouraged. Anti-corruption agencies should beam their search lights on individuals and institutions saddled with the responsibilities of implementing resettlement policy in the FCT, since corruption was also found among the challenges confronting effective resettlements in the FCT.
