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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the demolition of buildings constructed on land allocated to foreign embassies in the diplomatic zone of Katampe Extension in Abuja.
Wike described the structures as illegal, saying the land had initially been designated for diplomatic missions.
The minister spoke on Friday while addressing journalists during an inspection tour of ongoing infrastructure projects in the FCT.
According to him, the affected plots were allocated on March 18, 2008, to several embassies for residential use.
He alleged that an individual later took control of the land and began construction without approval from the Federal Capital Development Authority.
“This land was allocated to various embassies in 2008. Somebody just came here, took the land, and started developing it on their own without approval from the FCDA. We cannot allow this kind of land invasion to continue,” he said.
Wike said the Department of Development Control had been directed to demolish all structures on the site and restore the land to its original purpose.
He stated, “I have told them to bring down every building standing on this land”, and that the impacted embassies would receive formal notification to take possession of their allotted plots.
The diplomatic missions listed as beneficiaries of the land allocations include Thailand, Bulgaria, Syria, Somalia, Serbia and Montenegro; Japan; Austria; Switzerland; Senegal; and the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
Part of the land had also been reserved for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria for a 132/133 kV power station.
He also said a suspected developer linked to the construction had been arrested and would be prosecuted after police investigations.
“The man has been arrested and he will be charged in court. The police are carrying out their investigation and he will be charged any moment from now,” the minister said.
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, says land designated for foreign embassies’ residential areas in Abuja must remain reserved for diplomatic use, ordering that all buildings currently standing on the plots be demolished. pic.twitter.com/5XefhZRq3b
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) March 14, 2026
