There was drama in Abuja on Tuesday as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, halted construction activities on a disputed land allegedly taken over by soldiers acting on the instructions of a former Chief of Naval Staff.
Officials of the Department of Development Control had reportedly gone to enforce a stop-work order when armed soldiers chased them off the site, prompting Wike to personally visit the location.
Addressing journalists after inspecting the site, the minister did not mince words, describing the incident as “pure lawlessness and an attempt to intimidate government officials.”
According to Wike, the occupants were unable to provide any building approval, land documents or evidence of legitimate allocation.
“No approval, no title, nothing. Yet someone feels because he once occupied a high military position, he can take government land by force,” Wike said.
The minister expressed shock that a retired senior military officer — who he did not name — allegedly used soldiers to block FCTA officials from carrying out their statutory duties.
“Even if you were a former service chief, the law is the law,” he said. “Approach my office. Don’t use soldiers to fight development control.”
Wike said he has spoken with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who promised to intervene.
Despite the involvement of military personnel, Wike insisted that the FCTA will not back down.
“Nobody will intimidate us,” he declared. “Not under my watch. Abuja is not a jungle.”
He warned that encroached government lands across the FCT will be reclaimed, no matter who is involved.
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