From Romanus Uzor
In a dramatic turn of events yesterday, the Nigerian Senate offered an unprecedented public apology to Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi after weeks of social media uproar and national debate over his comments on the dilapidated structures around the Abuja airport.
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, Senate Deputy Chief Whip and lawmaker representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District.
Senator Nwebonyi, while passionately supporting the FCT Appropriation Bill 2025, had called for a comprehensive renewal of the airport’s surrounding areas—either by rehabilitating the rundown structures or relocating them.
His comments, though made in the spirit of urban revitalization, were quickly seized upon by social media, sparking fears of forced evictions and mass demolitions.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio stepped in to set the record straight. In a rare display of political humility, he extended the Senate’s apology directly to Senator Nwebonyi.
“People misunderstood you and thought you were saying they should demolish people’s villages, but that wasn’t what you meant. You were insisting we should sanitize the FCT because compensations have already been paid to those residents,” Akpabio said.
The apology marked a significant moment in the tension-filled discourse about Abuja’s urban planning. It also highlighted how social media can rapidly distort public discourse, turning well-intentioned comments into national controversies.
For Senator Nwebonyi, the vindication cements his position as a vocal advocate for the long-overdue renewal of the FCT’s airport precincts. The episode underscored a broader question for Nigeria’s lawmakers: how to ensure urban development respects both legal boundaries and the rights of the people.
Romanus Uzor Ozioko is the
Special Assistant to the Senate Deputy Chief Whip on Media and Publicity.
