EVALUATION OF COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES USED IN THE : FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ABUJA RESETTLEMENT SCHEME

This study brings to limelight the non-involvement of resettlement communities in planning and implementation as the bane to resettlement logjam in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The idea of people’s active participation in developmental projects is recently garnering momentum. This is not unconnected with the realisation of the numerous benefits the approach has in engendering effective and sustainable development. The advocacy for people’s inclusion in development projects has been shouldered by numerous development proponents and scholars over the years. In fact, people’s participation has even been added as a fresh component of development. Development that is fair to the present and the future is the development that is effective and sustainable. It is this backdrop that this study discusses the place of people’s active participation in resettlement schemes as a paradigm that would engender effective and sustainable development. This study evaluates the communication strategies used in the resettlement schemes by the Federal Capital Territory Administration. Mixed research methods comprising qualitative and quantitative are used in this study. The study embraced Democratic Participant Media Theory and Theory of Justice because of their suitability in enhancing social inclusiveness. This investigation found out that there is nonchalant attitude by the Federal Capital Territory Administration towards deploying participatory strategies in planning and executing resettlement schemes in FCT. This study however, recommends that for there to be effective and sustainable resettlement schemes in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, the FCT has to appreciate deploying participatory communication approaches.