I won’t be Intimidated, says Wike as he confronts military over illegal land grab in Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has strongly denounced the illegal seizure of a disputed plot of land in Abuja by military personnel.

He identified the soldiers as acting on the orders of a former Chief of Naval Staff, labeling their actions as “lawless and unacceptable.”

The minister’s declaration followed a personal visit to the site on Tuesday. He was responding to reports that soldiers had forcibly expelled officials from the FCTA’s Development Control department who were attempting to enforce urban planning regulations.

Wike emphasized that the land departments and Development Control are legally empowered to monitor and stop illegal development and land grabbing.

After being alerted to the unauthorized activity, he had instructed his team to halt all work on the site, citing a complete lack of legal documentation, including regional approval or proof of valid land acquisition.

However, when Development Control officials returned to implement the minister’s directive, they were allegedly chased away by armed soldiers acting for the retired senior officer.

Expressing his dismay, Wike stated he was shocked that a former high-ranking military official would resort to intimidation instead of following due process. “I don’t understand how somebody who attained that position cannot approach my office… But simply because he’s a military man, he thinks he can use that to intimidate Nigerians. I am not one of those that will succumb to blackmail or intimidation,” he said.

The minister revealed that when FCTA officials requested documents to justify the occupation, the individuals on site could produce none. “How can we continue to allow lawlessness to prevail? What about ordinary Nigerians?” he questioned, stressing the importance of equal application of the law.

Wike confirmed that he has discussed the matter with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who have both assured him it will be resolved.

While he clarified that the administration does not seek confrontation, he remained resolute.

“I will not allow this to happen,” Wike affirmed. “The same way we enforce our laws in other areas is the same way it will be done here. Nobody… will be allowed to carry out illegal development on government land.”

He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to restoring order and accountability in Abuja’s land administration, vowing to reclaim all encroached government land regardless of the power or status of those involved.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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