FCTA bans land allocation in areas without infrastructure

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said henceforth he will only allocate lands in the areas provided with infrastructures across the territory. The minister spoke on Thursday when he received the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, saying it makes any economic sense to allocate lands to people in areas that […]

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said henceforth he will only allocate lands in the areas provided with infrastructures across the territory.

The minister spoke on Thursday when he received the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, saying it makes any economic sense to allocate lands to people in areas that are not accessible.

Justice Tsoho had requested the minister to consider the judiciary in the allocation of lands.

Responding, Wike who affirmed his eternal respect for the Judiciary and the Legislature, said he believes in the equality and independence of the three arms of government.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu had already mandated him to provide lands to key officials in the three arms, saying he is developing a template that would see the allocation done in phases.

He said; “Like you rightly said, I believe that the three arms of government must work together even though independently and I believe that no arm of government should be treated lesser than the other.

“Without the judiciary, our democracy cannot survive. Nigerians are talking about the judiciary today because of the role you play and so whatever is required to strengthen the judiciary is not over-demanding.

“Before now, the President had given me the go ahead to allocate lands to the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. What remains now is how it should be done because the number is much. What we have decided to do is to do this in phases. All cannot be done at the same time. 

“Some allocations were done in the past but unfortunately, some of the places are inaccessible. I think it is baseless allocating land where people have no access, that is, infrastructure. It does not make any sense. So, we will allocate lands to you in places that are accessible.”

Earlier, Justice Tsoho commended Wike for his continued support to the judicial arm of government, saying as governor, the welfare of judicial officers in Rivers became the envy of their counterparts in other states.

He said Wike’s great antecedents in Rivers must have earned him this current position.