FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Orders Land Revocations; Opposition Fears They’re Targeted

The Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nyesom Wike has revoked certificates of occupancy of 167 plots of land in some highbrow districts of the city – most belonging to prominent Nigerians including the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi.

Others who have lost land include former Senate Chief Whip, Udoma Udoma, former Cross River Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, the first Minister of Niger Delta, Ufot Ekaette and the late publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

A notice from the ministry said the minister revoked the land because the allottees did not comply with the agreement to develop the lands.

“The Federal Capital Territory Administration hereby informs the general public that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him under Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978, revoked the under-listed plots with names and titles as reflected in our records for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy, to wit non-development,” said the notice signed by the Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, stated.

Some of the revoked plots are situated in the Central Business District, Maitama (A05); Maitama (A06); Wuse II (A08); Gudu (B01), Wuye (B03), Jabi (B04); Utako (B05); Katampe Extension (B19); Idu Industrial Area (C16) and Asokoro (A04) Districts respectively.

Many of the allottees appear to be opposition politicians giving rise to permutations of political motives behind the minister’s action. However, on the first day in office on August 21, the tough-talking Nyesom Wike vowed, “It is not going to be business as usual. For those who were allocated land and refused to develop them, we will revoke such lands and re-allocate them to those who are ready to develop them.”

He also demanded allottees who were behind in payment of their ground rents risked revocation of their certificates. “Those who don’t pay ground rent, we will not notify them to do so, but I will not be tired of signing revocation notices.”, he warned.

But the senator representing the FCT, Mrs Ireti Kingibe [LP] cautioned the minister – who is an ex-governor of Rivers State – that he is not a governor but a minister for FCT. “He must work hand-in-hand with the National Assembly and the president to administer FCT,” she said.

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