Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has come under intense scrutiny over the reported reduction of the University of Abuja’s land allocation from a sprawling 11,000 hectares to just 4,000 hectares. The move has sparked accusations of “institutional land grabbing” and drawn passionate responses from education stakeholders, policy analysts, and social commentators alike.
The spotlight fell on the issue when Abubakar Sidiq, a prominent policy analyst and former media aide, took to social media to lambast the FCT authorities. “Wike has reduced the land of the University of Abuja by 7,000 hectares, leaving the university with 4,000 hectares from the initial 11,000 hectares. Is this not land grabbing?” he questioned. “That they are not using the land today does not mean they will not use it tomorrow. It’s a university that is constantly under development and expansion for God’s sake.”
Sidiq’s comments have ignited a broader debate on the role of land in higher education development, especially at a time when most Nigerian universities are grappling with infrastructural deficits. According to the National Universities Commission (NUC), 62% of public universities in Nigeria are operating at over 100% of their carrying capacity, and expansion plans are often hampered by limited space and funding.
However, not all voices agree with Sidiq. Responding to the land controversy, Dr. Toks, a public intellectual and university don, challenged the need for such vast land ownership. In a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), he remarked: “Harvard University across its 5 campuses sits on approximately 2,000 hectares of land including its research forests. Same with Oxford. UNILAG is sitting on 325 hectares. UI and UNIBEN are less than 2,000 hectares. FUTO is approximately 4,000 hectares.”
Indeed, when compared to global standards, Nigerian universities appear to have disproportionately large land allocations. A comparative review by the Times Higher Education database reveals that the average landholding of the world’s top 50 universities is under 2,500 hectares, with many efficiently leveraging urban land through vertical development, integrated digital facilities, and public-private partnerships.
Defending Wike’s decision, some argue that the University of Abuja’s land has been largely underutilized for decades. “What is a university doing with 11,000 hectares of land?” Dr. Toks asked. “Which development would occur again after 37 years of existence? It hasn’t used up to 10% of the 11k hectares. UNILORIN is sitting on 15,000 hectares of land with less than 10% fully utilized since 1975.”
Backing this view, Gbenga Gold, a tech entrepreneur and alumnus of the University of Ilorin, noted, “UNILORIN’s land straddles the border with Niger State, covering several villages. From the gate to the main campus is about 15-20 mins of driving. With education going more digital, these are valuable assets the FG can’t afford to keep wasting.”
However, critics argue that underutilization is not justification for revocation. “Land is a long-term investment for future expansion, especially for research, agriculture, and innovation parks,” said Prof. Fatimah Ahmed, a specialist in educational planning at the University of Ibadan. “Reducing such land today only mortgages the possibilities of tomorrow.”
The University of Abuja, established in 1988, was envisioned as a comprehensive institution that would combine conventional and distance learning models. With over 40,000 students currently enrolled and a projected enrollment of 60,000 by 2030, many fear that future expansion might be stifled. Already, the university’s management has warned that some of its planned faculties and agricultural research zones will be disrupted by the land reduction.
Land allocation issues are not new to Nigerian universities. A 2021 report by the Nigerian Institute for Town Planning (NITP) revealed that nearly 30% of university lands across the country face encroachment by private developers and government agencies. In 2022, Ahmadu Bello University lost over 300 hectares of its land in Samaru due to similar reallocations.
While the FCT administration has not issued an official statement addressing the current uproar, sources within the Development Control Department suggest the reclaimed land will be allocated for housing and infrastructure development under the Abuja Master Plan. Analysts warn that such plans, if not transparently communicated, could further erode public trust.
Education activist and founder of Eduwatch Africa, Musa Jatau, condemned the decision as shortsighted. “We’re not against development, but it must be balanced. Reallocating university land without a master development audit or legislative review process is dangerous,” he said. “Today it’s UniAbuja, tomorrow it may be others.”
There are also concerns about the legal implications. According to the University Autonomy Act of 2003, federal universities are autonomous entities with custodianship over land granted by the federal government. “Any reallocation must pass through the Governing Council and the Federal Executive Council,” noted Barrister Sandra Ibe, a constitutional lawyer based in Abuja.
Students, too, have begun to organize protests under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, NANS Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Hassan Oladejo, described the land cut as “an attack on academic growth.” He urged the federal government to “reverse this travesty or face nationwide student demonstrations.”
Amid the growing uproar, some observers have suggested a middle ground. “A land utilization audit should be carried out,” said Dr. Chinyere Obasi, a spatial development expert. “Where there is evidence of dormancy or misuse, let part of the land be reclaimed, but we must preserve academic integrity and long-term planning.”
As the debate rages on, the question remains whether Wike’s action was a bold step toward city planning or a troubling sign of executive overreach. For now, all eyes are on the FCT Ministry and the Federal Government as stakeholders await clarity, accountability, and possible reversal.
The University of Abuja’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Aisha Maikudi, has yet to release a formal statement, but sources within the institution suggest that consultations are ongoing with the Federal Ministry of Education.
The final outcome of this land saga could set a precedent for how the government relates with universities over land issues across the country. For now, students, academics, landowners, and education watchers continue to hold their breath.
