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El-Rufai Adamant Over Abuja Demolition

Several years after leaving office, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, has remained adamant over the demolition of several … Continue reading El-Rufai Adamant Over Abuja Demolition


Several years after leaving office, the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, has remained adamant over the demolition of several buildings in the nation’s capital city during his tenure.

The former minister insists that he had to take drastic action to save Abuja from being turned into a slum by influential persons in the corridors of power.

Mr. El-Rufai, who made the comments at the presentation of his new book “The Accidental Public Servant” in Abuja on Thursday, claims he was able to dislodge the cabal distorting the Abuja Master Plan and using land allocations to enrich themselves at the expense of the country and its people.

“I love Abuja and gave nearly four years of my life to its restoration, orderliness and development,” he said.

Mr. El-Rufai ordered the demolition of hundreds of buildings within the Abuja metropolis and the satellite towns for the distortion of the city’s master plan to the chagrin of the house owners.

He also attributes his success in carrying out the exercise to the support he received from his boss and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“I was able to do my assignment because Obasanjo, who appointed me Minister, considered Abuja as his own child and supported me as his son for the FCT assignment and up to this point in time, I have not disappointed him,” the former FCT Minister said.

In the 627-page book, Mallam El-Rufai also explains why he quit the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2010, saying the party had lost focus and direction.