Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, has called for the demolition and relocation of communities surrounding the Abuja International Airport, describing them as "eyesores" that tarnish Nigeria's international image.

The Deputy Senate Chief Whip made this controversial demand during Thursday's Senate plenary session, urging the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to extend his ongoing infrastructural transformation to the airport vicinity.

"As you descend into the Abuja airport, if you consider the view, you will agree with me that it is an eyesore and doesn't give a good image of the nation," Senator Nwebonyi stated on the Senate floor.

The senator emphasized that the current infrastructure around the airport fails to project a positive image of Nigeria to international visitors and does not align with the extensive development projects currently underway in other parts of the Federal Capital Territory.

In response to Nwebonyi's proposal, Senate President Godswill Akpabio reminded the senator that the communities in question are residential areas where people live, simply noting that "the community is some people's village."

This call for demolition comes amid Minister Wike's aggressive urban renewal agenda in Abuja, which has already seen the demolition of several structures deemed illegal or non-compliant with the FCT master plan.

The senator's recommendation has raised concerns about potential displacement of communities and the social impact of such large-scale demolitions, particularly as no specific relocation plans were outlined in his address.

Minister Wike has yet to respond publicly to Senator Nwebonyi's call. The FCT administration is currently engaged in several development projects across Abuja, including the construction of new bus terminals in Bwari and Gwagwalada areas as part of efforts to improve transportation and reduce crime in the capital city.