The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to take decisive action against anyone attempting to take land belonging to the territory without proper approval. Wike made this declaration on Thursday while handing over 50 operational vehicles to security agencies in the FCT, Abuja.
The minister condemned the activities of land grabbers in the territory, stating, “We will stop anyone who thinks they can acquire government land for any reason without formal approval. We will not be swayed. Whether you are a civil rights activist or a television personality, wrong is wrong. No amount of blackmail will deter us.”
The statement comes after Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to Wike, addressed allegations of land grabbing by the FCT Administration. On Wednesday, Olayinka refuted claims circulating on social media that the FCTA had seized land from a construction company. He clarified that the land in question, located in Life Camp, Plot 2241, Gwarinpa District, Abuja, had been temporarily occupied by Paulosa Nigeria Ltd. under a temporary Right of Occupancy (R of O) granted in 1984. Olayinka challenged those spreading the rumors to present a Right of Occupancy (R of O) or Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued by the FCTA.
Supporting this stance, Wike emphasized that when the government grants a construction company a temporary site, the land does not automatically become the company’s property once the project is completed.
The minister also discussed the FCTA’s financial situation, revealing that the monthly wage bill for workers is between N13 billion and N14 billion, which is insufficient to cover salaries and fund capital projects. As a result, Wike noted that the FCTA heavily relies on taxes and other internally generated revenues to fund infrastructure projects such as road construction, school renovations, healthcare improvements, and other services for residents.
