The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, on Friday inaugurated two special committees tasked with investigating various land-related violations, giving them a two-week deadline to submit their findings.
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One of the committees will address the ongoing controversies surrounding River Park Estate, while the other will examine instances where land use has deviated from original approvals—especially in areas now dominated by commercial activities.
Barr. Wike directed both committees to conduct their investigations with professionalism and free from any form of interference.
While inaugurating the committees, Barr. Wike stressed their importance in restoring proper order in Abuja’s development and ensuring better service delivery by the FCT Administration.
Speaking about the River Park Estate Committee—led by Barrister Salman Dako, General Counsel/Secretary of the Legal Services Secretariat said it will look into breaches of agreements between the FCT Administration and developers involved in the mass housing project.
Barr. Wike said, “The first Committee has to do with the issues that cropped up in the River Park Estate. Sometimes, government will give out letters of intent to those that will say they want to develop mass housing and government will always have an agreement or what you may call Memorandum of Understanding. We find out in most cases that these agreements are being violated. So, this Committee is to look into the issues that have to do with River Park Estate and advise the government on the necessary steps to take in order to correct some of these anomalies.
“The assignment must be concluded in two weeks. There will be no extension of time. So, if it requires you to sit from morning till night, may it be so. We are not going to delay.
“And let me warn that it must be done professionally. I don’t want to hear of any issue of influence from outside. If I hear that somebody has interest, be it from outside or from the FCTA, particularly AGIS and Land Administration Department, you know the consequences of it.
So, it must be done strictly and anywhere you require assistance, let me know. If there is any Department that is trying to obstruct you from getting information, let me know in time.”
The second committee, headed by Town Planner Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control, will look into illegal changes in land use across the FCT. The committee is to identify properties where the use approved in the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)—for example, residential—has been changed to commercial or another use without approval.
Barr. Wike explained that such changes violate the Abuja Master Plan and must be addressed.
Barr. Wike said, “If you have a C of O that its purpose is for residential, but go there today, it’s turned to commercial and that of course is in violation of the certificate that was issued to you, this Committee is to identify all those areas that are in violation of the use of the Certificate of Occupancy as given to residents… and recommend to government what appropriate step to be taken, so that we comply with the rules or to the guidelines that were given. It’s very important to us.
Are we going to say outright revocation for not complying with the provisions in the C of O or there will be a penalty and then you ask for conversion and pay the appropriate fee?”
“So, the Committee will have to advise government, and this will be done within two weeks, because when you give long time, there will be no commitment to the work. I believe that the Committee should come up with a robust recommendation of what government is to do.”
In addition to setting up the committees, Barr. Wike also instructed the heads of Lands, AGIS, Development Control, and Urban & Regional Planning departments to immediately compile a list of all individuals and organizations who have defaulted on ground rent payments for the years 2024 and 2025. This is to facilitate enforcement and revenue collection.
Barr. Wike emphasized the importance of these funds in supporting key infrastructure projects captured in the 2025 FCT budget, which he confirmed has been signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Barr. Wike said, “So, all those that are owing, from the ones that have been published and the ones that are owing from 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, we have to provide it so that we start immediate implementation in order to receive funds that will aid us in the development of infrastructure.
“The 2025 budget of the FCT, which has been assented to by Mr. President, has been submitted to us without funds. There is no way you can embark on projects that will have positive impacts on the lives of our people without funds. So, please – Director Lands, AGIS, Development Control, Urban and Regional Planning, make sure that you work very tirelessly to see that this result is achieved.” Barr. Wike
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