The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has announced the revocation of rights to 165 land plots in Abuja due to the owners’ failure to develop them.
In a notice by the FCT’s Permanent Secretary Olusade Adesola on Thursday, the cancelled certificates of occupancy include allocations to prominent figures like 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Cross River governor Liyel Imoke, ex-SGF Ufot Ekaette, and late Leadership publisher Sam Nda-Isaiah.
Corporate organizations like BUA Group, Julius Berger, and Honeywell also had their plots revoked over breach of development conditions. The highbrow districts of Maitama, Asokoro, and Wuse 2 were most affected.
The FCTA referenced Section 28 of the Land Use Act 1978 as empowering the minister to revoke non-developed allocations. This aligns with Wike’s recent vows to correct Abuja’s masterplan by demolishing illegal structures and recovering allocated land left unutilized.
Analysts see the revocations as a strong statement of intent by Wike to tackle infractions, even by influential figures who obtained unused plots. However, affected parties may challenge the move as unlawful.
With land resources scarce in the FCT, the minister aims to free up undeveloped plots for allocation to other needs through the mass revocation. But critics worry it could spark a political backlash by those impacted if their rights were validly obtained initially.
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Here are the names in numeric format:
- A. A. Salau
- Abdulrazaq Giwa
- Abdullahi Tafida
- Abdullahi Musa
- Abubakar Namalu
- Adamu Nma Kolo
- Ahmed Musa Dangiwa
- Aliyu Tanko
- Aminu Abubakar Jibril
- Ayuba Angulu
- Babaloja Eleran
- Bashir Gegu
- Charles N. Onoja
- D. S. Mabe
- Dalha Wada-Kwanke
- Dangaladiman Zuru
- David Akobi Oyadongha
- Elisha Buba Yero
- Faruk Imam
- Florence Ajimobi
- Ibrahim Magashi
- Ibrahim Yahaya Zailani
- Idi Barde Gubana
- Ja’afaru Sani
- Jonah Madaki
- Kabir Mohammed Getso
- Khadija Bukar Abba-Ibrahim
- Lai Omotola
- Lere Oriola
- Mahmood Mohammed
- Maryam Katagum
- Michael Iyorchir Ayapas
- Modibo Bello Kaoje
- Mohammed Sani Abdullahi
- Mohammed Sarki Abba
- Mohammed Umar Farouk
- Muhammed Musa Bello
- Muhammed Tahir Monguno
- Muiz Banire
- O. C. Oviasu
- Olagunsoye Oyinlola
- Olorunnibe Mamora
- Omotayo Omotosho
- Rauf Aregbesola
- S. B. Dikko
- S. S. Arabi
- Sa’ad Abubakar
- Sadeeq S. Garba III
- Sani Bala
- Tayo Alasoadura
- Umar El-Yakub
- Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub
- Umaru Haruna Doguwa
- Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari
- Yakubu Dogara
- Yakubu Sanda
- Zainab Ahmed
- Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyer