Subscribers of demolished Minanuel Estate have lamented their ordeal ever since their homes were demolished, saying the government and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had abandoned them.

The subscribers have challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to prove his genuine commitment to housing development in Nigeria by ordering the resettlement of the affected subscribers who had invested millions of naira to acquire the property.

They lamented that since the estate was demolished, the victims had not received any relief from the FCT administration or the presidency.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, spokesperson of Minanuel Estate Subscribers Union, Barr. Festus Adebayo, said demolition of houses by the FCT administration was a negation of the federal government's drive to achieve housing for all Nigerians.

"We want to say very clearly that our houses were demolished and since then, we have been going from one place to the other seeking justice. Many Nigerians have condemned the action of the FCT minister and we do not have money to take the minister to court.

"By this, we are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to confirm his commitment to housing development by resettling the subscribers of Minanuel Estate," he said.

On threats by the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, to demolish more estates in the territory, Adebayo said it would amount to demolishing the economy of the FCT and indirectly the economy of the country, noting that all over the world, housing was known to be a tool for economic development and poverty alleviation and wondered why housing was becoming a tool of depression, oppression and frustration in the country.

Speaking further, he called for the restructuring of the FCT land administration system, as well as its department of development control which he described as "suffering from the kwashiorkor of corruption and if not treated, would create an unprecedented crisis."