The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced the seizure of 7,000 hectares of land out of the 11,000 hectares previously belonging to the University of Abuja (Uniabuja).

Wike alleged that the University appropriated large portions of land to itself in the Giri district without proper documentation and fenced it off.

Speaking on Monday during the commissioning of newly constructed access roads in the area, the FCT Minister said the authorities in the university might go ahead and sell the land in the future.

“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,” Wike stated.

The minister directed the Director of Lands and other relevant Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) agencies to allocate only 4000 hectares to the university, while the rest would be reallocated for other developmental projects in the district.

He added that access roads would be created within the district to facilitate the quick infrastructural development of the area and make it more conducive and appealing to human habitation.

“Having created this access road, we have told the Executive Secretary of FCDA and other relevant agencies to start working on details of how we are going to do the roads within the district. So, be assured that maybe next one year, it will be a different thing,” Wike said.

The Minister also hinted at plans to work with the National Assembly to establish more institutions in the district, pledging FCTA’s support for land provision to fast-track the process.

“The EFCC Academy in the district is expected to begin operations immediately following the completion of the new access road.

“They will start the academy immediately because now they have access roads that they can move in their equipment and develop this. And when this comes, you see that other people will also move in and develop their own area,” he said.

Wike promised that the FCTA would provide essential amenities such as roads, water, and electricity to attract investors.

“Most of the problems we’re having here is that sometimes when you allocate land, there are no facilities, no infrastructure, and people are not encouraged. So, we will do everything we can to see that basic infrastructure is being provided,” he said.