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Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has declared an end to the indiscriminate allocation and conversion of lands meant originally for parks and gardens across Abuja, vowing to enforce stricter control over the territory’s land use.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Friday, Wike said many individuals and organisations had abused the original intent of park allocations by seeking to convert them into real estate developments under the guise of “comprehensive development.”
He noted that such practices were no longer acceptable, saying the government would not allow misuse of public lands intended for recreational purposes.
“Government said, ‘No, this is not what we expect. And we cannot allow that. Therefore, the ministerial committee that was set up decided we have to control this,” he explained.
According to Wike, the new policy means that no department within the FCT Administration will have autonomous control over land allocation. All land-related applications must now pass through the FCT Lands Department and ultimately be approved by the minister.
“No more land to any department. If you want to deal with real estate, apply to the lands department, which can bring the application to the attention of the minister. If you want to carry out parks and gardens, apply, and then it will come to the attention of the minister of the FCT,” he said.
Addressing public concerns and accusations of land seizures, Wike dismissed claims that the ministry had encroached on private property.
The minister warned that his administration would not bow to pressure or blackmail from individuals seeking to undermine the city’s land management policies.
