Minister Nyesom Wike Revokes Land Allocations of Prominent Figures in Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike, has taken decisive action by revoking the allocations of 167 land plots situated in upscale areas of the nation’s capital, Abuja.
This unprecedented decision has sent shockwaves through the political and social circles of the city, as some of the revoked plots were held by prominent figures, including the former Senate Chief Whip, Udoma Udoma, former Cross River Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, the inaugural Minister of Niger Delta, Ufot Ekaette, and the late publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration issued a formal notice late Thursday night, announcing the revocation of these plots due to the failure of their allottees to initiate development on them.
The notice, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, explicitly cited Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978 as the legal basis for the revocations, attributing them to “continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy, to wit non-development.”
A significant number of the plots that have been revoked are situated in the prestigious Maitama District A05. Notably, the names of former Cross River governor Senator Liyel Imoke, Musa Egu, Hassan Hadejia, and Ishaya Baba were associated with some of these now-revoked allocations.
This move by Minister Nyesom Wike comes as no surprise, as he had unequivocally expressed his commitment to revoke land allocations that contravene the Abuja Land Use Act, regardless of the individuals involved.
In a stern warning issued on his first day in office, he had granted a two-week grace period for allottees to settle their ground rents, cautioning that failure to comply would result in the revocation of their land allocations.
This proactive approach to land management aims to ensure that the city’s valuable resources are utilized for the benefit of the public and in adherence to established regulations.
The repercussions of this dramatic decision are yet to unfold, as it reverberates through the political landscape of the nation’s capital.
It remains to be seen how the affected allottees and the public will react to this significant development in the heart of Nigeria’s political hub.