Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has revoked 167 plots of land in Abuja over failure of owners to develop them.
The landed property of Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25, 2023 election, situated in the Katampe district of Abuja, was among those whose revocation was announced yesterday night, Thursday, September 21, 2023.
It was learnt that the land is a gift to Obi by an FCT Minister during the former’s days as Anambra State Governor.
A source close to Obi who spoke with spoke with journalist early on Friday expressed surprise at the development. He said: “Why is Wike making the demolition of property and revocation of land his priority? There are more urgent matters begging for his attention as FCT Minister.
“Even if Wike was told that someone of Obi’s caliber has an undeveloped plot in Abuja, courtesy demands that he would have contacted him to ask of the reason before the revocation.”
The FCT administration had said that the plots were revoked due to the refusal or failure of their allottees to develop them.
“The Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA 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 underlisted 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”, the administration said in the notice signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola.
Some of the plots revoked in Maitama district A05 had names like Liyel Imoke, Musa Aboki Egu, Hassan Hadejia and Ishaya Baba.
In Jabi, some of the plots revoked had allottees such as Sam Nda-Isaiah, and Donubari Josephine Kogbara.
In other areas, this revoked had names as Julius Berger Nigeria, Honeywell Construction, Uffot Joseph Ekaette, Shittu Mohammed, Udoma Udo Udoma, Kanu Agabi, Niki Niki Tobi, Ishaku Bello, and others.
Wike had on assumption of office vowed to restore the master plan of the territory and revoke plots that had not been developed or those whose ground rents have not been paid for years.
He had consequently given a two-week grace to allottees to pay their ground rents or risk revocation of their allocations
