In a dramatic move that has sparked nationwide debate, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the repossession of 7,000 out of 11,000 hectares of land claimed by the University of Abuja in the Giri District. Wike accused the university of illegally appropriating the land without valid documentation, alleging that it fenced off massive areas of FCT property in a questionable manner.
Speaking during the commissioning of newly constructed access roads in the Giri area on Monday, Wike did not hold back in criticizing the institution. “The university on their own grabbed 11,000 hectares. I said that will not happen. No document, nothing. You see them fencing everywhere, and before you know it, they would have gone to sell our land,” he declared.
According to the minister, the university’s actions amounted to land grabbing, and he immediately directed the Director of Lands and relevant FCT agencies to allocate only 4,000 hectares to the university. The remaining 7,000 hectares, he said, would be reallocated for planned urban development and infrastructure projects.
“This is the capital of Nigeria. Things must be done according to law. No institution, no matter how respected, should grab land without following due process. We are not against the university, but we are against impunity,” Wike stated emphatically.
He assured residents of Giri and surrounding communities that the reclaimed land would be put to good use, with plans already underway to construct internal road networks and improve living conditions in the district. “Having created this access road, we’ve told the Executive Secretary of FCDA and other agencies to begin planning the roads within the district. In the next year, Giri will be completely transformed,” he added.
In what appears to be a broader vision for education and security development in the area, the Minister announced the immediate operationalization of the EFCC Academy, following the completion of the access road. “They will start the academy immediately because now they can move in their equipment. When this happens, more people will come in and development will follow,” he said.
Wike also hinted at collaboration with the National Assembly to facilitate the establishment of more institutions in the Giri district, promising that the FCTA would provide land and infrastructure to accelerate the process. He emphasized that education and development must go hand in hand, but must be grounded in lawful conduct.
“Let it be known that FCTA is committed to supporting education, but not at the expense of proper documentation and urban planning. No one is above the law, not even a university,” Wike stated, drawing applause from community stakeholders present at the event.
He concluded with a strong promise to change the narrative of underdevelopment in the FCT by aggressively providing infrastructure. “Most of the problems we’re having here is that when land is allocated, there are no roads, no water, no electricity. That discourages people. We are going to change that. Basic infrastructure will come first,” he affirmed.
Reactions have been mixed, with some education advocates questioning the sudden nature of the land recovery, while others have praised the minister for restoring order and pushing for structured development. As the FCTA moves forward with its plans, the fate of the University of Abuja’s expansion project remains uncertain, raising broader questions about land governance and institutional accountability in Nigeria’s education sector.
