Wike Finally Breaks Silence on Revocation of UNIABUJA Land
- Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT, has finally commented on the circumstances surrounding the revocation of 7,000 out of the 11,000 hectares of land belonging to UNIABUJA
- Wike explained that the land had been revoked by the previous FCT administration and that he only implemented what he met on the ground
- The minister further noted that he would do whatever is right and that any of his successors can do otherwise
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has narrated the stories surrounding the revocation of 7,000 out of the 11,000 hectares of land belonging to the permanent site of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA).
The minister, in an interview on Monday, August 4, disclosed that the land had been revoked by the previous administration, adding that he only executed what he saw on the ground.
Source: Twitter
Wike speaks on Abuja land matters
Wike further defended how his administration had handled land matters so far and vowed that he would soon crack down on property owners who have not paid their ground rent. The minister addressed several issues while speaking in a media chat in Abuja and maintained that Abuja should have special funding.
He maintained that he was only following the decision of the previous administration and that he did not revoke the land of the UNIABUJA.
The minister then questioned the claim of the university to 11,000 hectares of land, explaining that it was unjustifiable for the institution to have such a massive plot, especially when other government agencies, such as the Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Academy, already occupied parts of the land.
Wike's statement reads in part:
“The former minister had revoked that land. If it is your (University) own, how did these other people get the land?”
Wike opens up on urbanising Abuja
He then stressed the need for urbanisation as the reason behind the action of the government. He noted that the Nigerian capital is getting congested and the FCT have to move outwards. He emphasised that he would only do what is right, and whoever comes after him can do otherwise. He affirmed that he will be judged by posterity.
The minister had earlier claimed that the land was revoked because the university did not have documents backing the acquisition of the land. The minister expressed concern about the university's alleged "land grabbing," pointing out that it had fenced off vast areas of land without obtaining the necessary approvals or providing adequate documentation.
Wike, who is the immediate past governor of Rivers state, had been at loggerheads with many property owners in the Nigerian capital, insisting that the rules must be adhered to. His administration has had an impact on both private and public entities in the FCT.
Source: Twitter
Man shares frustration over land dispute
Legit.ng also reported in April that a land dispute in Nigeria has gained attention online after a young man shared his frustrating experience with netizens.
The worried man claimed that he had purchased a plot of land for a huge amount of naira, only to find himself at the centre of a dispute.
The TikTok user @samwealthexchange01 recounted his story in a video that garnered significant attention on the platform.
Source: Legit.ng
