The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed his frustration towards residents of the Lugbe area, accusing them of land grabbing.
On Tuesday, Wike visited the area following reports of protests by residents who allegedly tried to stop the demolition of their properties.
Wearing a blue suit and his signature bowler hat, Wike, visibly angry and surrounded by security personnel, lectured the residents on the proper procedure for acquiring land legally.
“It cannot work. You cannot come to a place and seize land and say it is your own. We will not allow that. If not for lawlessness…” Wike stated in a raspy voice.
He continued, “If you do not know what to do, we will teach you what to do.”
The residents, in response, protested Wike’s assertions, claiming they had legal documents to prove their ownership of the land.
“We are not land grabbers, we are developers. We have papers. We have submitted these papers to the authorities,” they said in unison.
Wike, clearly angered, interrupted them.
“Shut up!” the minister thundered. “Every land in the FCT belongs to the FCT. The supreme court said the area councils do not have that power to allot land. And that was why the area councils came to us to grant them that request.
“The only thing you can do is go to court. If you like harass us. I will not settle you because you have taken laws into your hands. Who told you you can talk? Is it because I came down to talk to you? If you think that you take something… you are not the only one. Be careful. Stupid !”
In recent months, the FCT administration has been demolishing properties, citing violations of the city’s master plan.
Mukhtar Galadima, the director of development control at the FCTA, explained that the targeted structures were illegally constructed by individuals accused of land grabbing.