The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate revocation of 762 plots of land in Abuja’s high-brow Maitama 1 District. Among those affected are prominent figures including former President Muhammadu Buhari, the current Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
The revocation is due to the failure of the allottees to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O), with Wike also issuing a two-week ultimatum to another 614 individuals and companies to settle their outstanding bills or face similar revocation of their Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O).
The decision impacts a wide range of high-profile individuals and corporate entities. Apart from Buhari, Abbas, and Akume, former governors Rochas Okorocha, Ben Ayade, Seriake Dickson, and others like former Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen, and several serving and former federal lawmakers including Enyinnaya Abaribe, Abdul Ningi, and Dino Melaye have lost their land allocations.
“The Federal Capital Territory Administration has withdrawn the rights of occupancy for failure to comply with payment obligations,” read the notice from the FCT Administration, highlighting the legal basis for the revocation under Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978. This act empowers the minister to revoke rights of occupancy for breaches such as non-compliance with payment obligations or other terms of allocation.
This isn’t Wike’s first foray into such decisive action. He has previously revoked land allocations for non-development, affecting the likes of Peter Obi and other notable personalities. His tenure has been marked by a strong commitment to ensuring compliance and fairness in FCT land administration, often stating, “When we make the right decision, some people will be happy, and some will not.”
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The revocation has sparked a range of reactions; some applaud the move as a step towards accountability and adherence to legal processes, while others criticize it as a targeted action against political adversaries. Critics argue that such moves could be perceived as politically motivated, especially in Nigeria’s complex political landscape.
Nevertheless, Wike’s actions underscore a growing trend towards enforcing land use and development policies in Abuja, aiming to restore the master plan of the nation’s capital and ensure that land is utilized effectively.
This development follows a series of measures by Wike to manage land allocations more stringently, including the revocation of lands for non-development and issuing ultimatums to embassies and other entities to commence development or lose their plots.
The affected individuals and organizations now face the challenge of either complying with the financial obligations or appealing the decision through legal channels, setting the stage for potential legal battles that could further define the scope of land administration in Nigeria’s capital.
