Akomolafe Henrich Bankole, known on X as @henrich_banks, has expressed his distress over the demolition of his ₦150 million poultry farm in Lokogoma, Abuja. The destruction, which he alleges was carried out by officials from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), resulted in the death of over 5,000 birds and the loss of jobs for 50 workers.
Bankole shared videos and details of the incident on his X account on September 8, 2024, describing the demolition as sudden and without prior notice. He accused the FCDA of conducting the demolition in a manner he deemed unjust and destructive.
“I am heartbroken and angry. Yesterday, my N150 million investment in a poultry farm located in Lokogoma, Abuja, was destroyed by the guys from the Federal Capital Development Authority,” Bankole wrote. “No warning, no prior notice, just pure destruction, and over 5,000 birds are dead.”
Bankole, who previously ran for the House of Representatives in Ekiti under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, asserted that he had obtained all necessary permits, including the Certificate of Occupancy, before establishing the farm. He questioned the legitimacy of the demolition, given that he followed all legal procedures.
“How can this happen in a country where I followed every legal process? Let it be clear that all papers, including the (C of O), were obtained and yet, some individuals in this government felt it was okay to destroy what I’ve worked for—an investment of a lifetime,” Bankole said. “This isn’t just my loss—over 50 workers are now thrown out of jobs and businesses! In these hard times, families will now suffer because of the actions of some individuals operating under the guise of FCDA.”
Bankole expressed frustration with the government’s actions, questioning the feasibility of investing in Nigeria under such circumstances. He appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the First Lady, who had previously encouraged farming, to take notice of the situation.
“I hope FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is seeing the damage being done under his administration. I hope Madam First Lady, who asked us to start farming, can see the rubbish going on,” Bankole added. “I hope no one will accuse me of treason when I carry placards because this is treason against me.”