The Federal Capital Territory Administration, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, has revoked 167 land plot allocations in high-end Abuja districts.
Among the affected allocations were those belonging to notable individuals such as Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s former presidential candidate; Udoma Udoma, former Senate Chief Whip; Senator Liyel Imoke, former Cross River Governor; Ufot Ekaette, the inaugural Minister of Niger Delta; and the late publisher of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah.
The decision to revoke these land plots was attributed to the failure of their allottees to initiate development as required.
In an official notice issued on Thursday evening, the Federal Capital Territory Administration explained the grounds for the revocation. The notice, signed by Permanent Secretary Olusade Adesola, stated, “The Federal Capital Territory Administration hereby informs the general public that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him under Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978, revoked the under-listed plots with names and titles as reflected in our records for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy, to wit non-development.
Other plots that fell under this revocation action were located in the prestigious Maitama District A05. The list of allottees included former Cross River governor Senator Liyel Imoke, as well as individuals named Musa Egu, Hassan Hadejia, and Ishaya Baba.
Wike, during his first day in office as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, had made a resolute commitment to revoke land allocations found to be in contravention of the Abuja Land Use Act, regardless of the individuals involved. As part of this stance, a two-week grace period was provided to allottees to settle their ground rents, with the risk of allocation revocation looming for those who failed to comply.
