, Nyesom Wike, has clarified the government's stance on recent land reforms, including the regularization of Area Council land titles.){kind=link}
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified the government’s stance on recent land reforms, including the regularization of Area Council land titles.
Wike reaffirmed that the Supreme Court’s ruling, which asserts that all land within the capital falls under the jurisdiction of the FCT Administration, must be fully adhered to.
The former Governor of Rivers State emphasized the FCTA’s commitment to regularizing existing land allocations and providing landowners with Certificates of Occupancy (C of O).
“The Supreme Court has come to say every land belongs to the FCT, therefore, there is nothing like Area Council land and we don’t want to go back in saying that we have cancelled all the allocations. We said let’s regularize so that you can have your C of O,” the Minister stated during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday.
He further urged landowners to make prompt payments of fees and develop allocated lands, stressing that this will help prevent land speculation and ensure the efficient use of land.
The former governor also mentioned that the federal capital administration will continue with the development of the Maitama II District.
He reminded all land allotees in the FCT who have not paid the required fees to do so, reiterating that land in Abuja is not free.
Regarding the review of the Abuja masterplan, Wike called for patience, noting, “The Abuja masterplan is to keep Abuja the way it was designed.”
He emphasized that the masterplan must be followed and illegal developments must be addressed, citing the example of Kpaduma in Asokoro, where the administration is actively removing obstructions to road construction.
The Minister made it clear that any illegal structures that go against the Abuja masterplan will be demolished.