Wike Directs Demolition, Arrest Over Illegal Takeover of Embassy Land in Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has ordered the arrest and demolition of buildings illegally constructed on plots of land allocated to foreign missions in the diplomatic zone of Katampe Extension, Abuja.
The affected land, located within the Diplomatic Zone, Katampe Extension, was originally allocated on March 18, 2008, to 10 embassies for diplomatic residential purposes, while a portion was also reserved for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria for a 132/133KV power station.
Speaking to journalists during an inspection tour of projects in Abuja, Wike said the FCT Administration discovered that an individual had illegally taken over the land and erected buildings without approval from the Federal Capital Development Authority.Nigerian Current Affairs
He said the Department of Development Control had been directed to remove all illegal structures.
“This land was allocated to various embassies. Somebody just came here, took the land and started developing it on his own without approval from the FCDA. We cannot allow this kind of land invasion to continue,” he said.
He said the affected plots were allocated to diplomatic missions, including those of Thailand; Bulgaria; Syria; Somalia; Serbia and Montenegro; Japan; Austria; Switzerland; Senegal, and the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
He said the FCT Administration had begun notifying the missions to take possession of their allocated land.
Wike also confirmed that the suspected developer, Alhaji Kabiru Sahara, had been arrested and would be prosecuted after on-going investigations by the police.
“The man has been arrested and he will be charged to court. The police are carrying out their investigations and he will be charged to court any moment from now,” he said.
He said many of the projects, being handled by firms such as Julius Berger Nigeria, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Levant Construction, would be completed in time for inauguration during the third anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in office.
