The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the arrest of a suspected land grabber and the demolition of buildings illegally constructed on plots allocated to foreign missions in the diplomatic zone of Katampe Extension, Abuja.
The affected land, located in the Diplomatic Zone of Katampe Extension within the Federal Capital Territory, was originally allocated on March 18, 2008, to several foreign embassies for diplomatic residential purposes. A portion of the land was also reserved for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria for a 132/133KV power station.
Speaking to journalists during an inspection of projects across Abuja, Wike revealed that the FCT Administration discovered that an individual had unlawfully taken over the land and erected buildings without approval from the Federal Capital Development Authority.
According to the minister, the Department of Development Control has been directed to demolish all illegal structures on the land.
“This land was allocated to various embassies. Somebody just came here, took the land and started developing it on his own without approval from the FCDA. We cannot allow this kind of land invasion to continue,” Wike said.
He explained that the plots were allocated to diplomatic missions including those of Thailand, Bulgaria, Syria, Somalia, Serbia and Montenegro, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Senegal, and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Wike disclosed that the FCT Administration has begun notifying the diplomatic missions to take possession of their allocated land.
The minister also confirmed that the suspected developer, Alhaji Kabiru Sahara, has been arrested and will face prosecution after ongoing investigations by the police.
“The man has been arrested and he will be charged to court. The police are carrying out their investigations and he will be charged to court any moment from now,” he said.
Wike spoke after inspecting several ongoing infrastructure projects across Abuja, including the redesigned Abuja City Gate, the road linking Bill Clinton Drive at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the Tunga Madaki community which will be extended to Zuba, as well as the road connecting Baze University, Body of Benchers, Nile University of Nigeria and the Wupa Light Rail Station in the Idu area of the capital.
Other projects inspected include the Office Annex for the Body of Benchers.
The minister noted that many of the projects, being executed by firms such as Julius Berger Nigeria, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Levant Construction, are expected to be completed ahead of the third anniversary of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in office.
Wike added that the ongoing infrastructure development is aimed at opening up new communities and improving connectivity across the capital, noting that residents of areas such as Tungan-Madaki have welcomed the projects as they will provide easier access to the city.