Wike slashes UniAbuja land from 11,000 to 4,000 hectares

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the reduction of the University of Abuja’s land allocation from 11,000 to 4,000 hectares, citing unauthorised land acquisition and lack of documentation. Wike, who made this declaration during the official commissioning of the newly constructed access roads in the Giri District of Abuja, emphasised the strategic importance of […]

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the reduction of the University of Abuja’s land allocation from 11,000 to 4,000 hectares, citing unauthorised land acquisition and lack of documentation.

Wike, who made this declaration during the official commissioning of the newly constructed access roads in the Giri District of Abuja, emphasised the strategic importance of the Giri District, which hosts major institutions such as the University of Abuja and the EFCC Academy.

He expressed concern over what he described as “land grabbing” by the university, accusing it of fencing off large swathes of land without proper approval or documentation.

“The university, on its own, grabbed 11,000 hectares. I said that would not happen. No document, nothing. You see them fencing everywhere, and before you know it, they will have gone to sell our land,” Wike stated.

• Jubilation as Shinkafi Volunteer Forces kill Bandit Commander, Danbokolo
• Security operatives order PDP BoT members out of meeting hall

The minister directed the Director of Lands and other relevant FCTA agencies to allocate only 4,000 hectares to the university, while the remaining land will be reallocated for planned development within the district.

Wike, who assured residents and stakeholders that the FCT Administration was committed to infrastructural development in Giri and surrounding areas, announced that internal road construction within the district would commence soon, with plans already underway by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

“Having created this access road, we have told the Executive Secretary of FCDA and other relevant agencies to start working on the details of how we are going to do the roads within the district. So, be assured that maybe next one year, it will be a different thing,” he said.

He further hinted at a potential collaboration with the National Assembly in setting up institutions in the district, pledging FCTA’s support for land provision to fast-track the process.

The EFCC Academy, one of the major institutions in the area, is expected to commence operations immediately following the completion of the road, which now provides easy access for equipment mobilisation and structural development.

“They will start the academy immediately because now they have access roads that they can move in their equipment and develop this. And when this comes, you see that other people will also move in and develop their own area,” he added.

Highlighting the challenge of infrastructure scarcity discouraging land development, Wike pledged to provide essential amenities such as roads, water, and electricity to attract investors and improve the living conditions in the district.

“Most of the problems we’re having here are that sometimes when you allocate land, there are no facilities, no infrastructure, and people are not encouraged. So, we will do everything we can to see that basic infrastructure is being provided,” he said.

We have valid documents – Varsity

Reacting to the development, the Acting Director, Information and University Relations of the University, Dr Habib Yakoob, said the university has valid title documents for its land, which were duly issued during its formative years by the appropriate authorities, including previous FCT ministers.

He said: “These documents were granted in line with the university’s present and future development needs.’’

Yakoob explained that a lot of developments had been ongoing all over the university land sponsored by TETFund, Hi Impact intervention, FGN’s appropriation, through internally generated funds, among others. Furthermore, several collaborations with agencies of government, such as NaSENI, NALDA, RMRDC and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture are ongoing, he said.

“Just last week, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Patricia Manko Lar, led the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed Regional Multi-Purpose Research Laboratory building at the university sponsored by the Tertiary Education Fund (TETFund),” he added.

He, however, said the university authority would continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders to appeal to them to reason with the only public university in the Federal capital Territory that is determined to use its land for purposeful development and long-term growth.