The Nigerian Senate intervened in the ongoing demolition of properties within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, directing the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to immediately halt the demolitions. This directive stemmed from growing concerns regarding potential irregularities in the demolition processes and the significant hardship inflicted upon affected individuals. The Senate established an ad hoc committee to thoroughly investigate the demolitions and mandated the minister to appear before the committee. The committee, chaired by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, was given a two-week timeframe to present its findings and recommendations to the Senate.
Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP – FCT), who initiated the motion that prompted the Senate’s intervention, expressed concerns that the demolitions were often carried out without adherence to due process. She highlighted the immense financial losses suffered by individuals whose properties were demolished, arguing that many of these demolitions seemed unjustified. Senator Kingibe cited the case of Messrs Paulosa Estate, chaired by the late Colonel Paul Osakpawan Ogbebor, as a prime example. She emphasized that the estate’s land had been legally allocated in 1984 with all necessary documentation, raising questions about the legality of its demolition. She urged the Senate to ensure that future demolitions strictly adhere to due process.
The Senate’s decision to halt the demolitions was not without its dissenters. Senator Karimi Sunday (APC – Kogi West) argued against halting the demolitions without first hearing the FCT minister’s perspective. He advocated for a balanced approach that included gathering information from all parties involved before taking any decisive action. However, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (APC – Ondo Central), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, countered this argument, stressing the importance of preventing further potential harm while the investigation was underway. He argued that allowing demolitions to continue during the investigation could lead to irreversible damage and prejudice the investigation’s outcome.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio supported Senator Adegbonmire’s stance, emphasizing the need to prioritize fairness and ensure that demolitions serve the best interests of the Nigerian people and are conducted in accordance with established procedures. He questioned the logic of investigating demolitions that were allowed to continue during the investigation itself, highlighting the potential for irreversible consequences. The Senate ultimately resolved to urge the FCT minister to halt further demolitions and tasked the ad hoc committee with conducting a comprehensive investigation into the matter. The committee, composed of prominent senators, including Deputy Senate Leader Oyelola Ashir and Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, was given two weeks to present its findings.
Meanwhile, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike responded to the Senate’s directive and public criticism, asserting that his administration would not be swayed by accusations of land grabbing. He maintained that the FCT Administration would continue to address land contraventions regardless of the individuals involved. Wike addressed allegations made by social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, who accused the minister of revoking land titles belonging to Paullosa Nigeria Ltd and reallocating them to Saravera Nigeria Limited and the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda. Wike denied these allegations and emphasized his commitment to acting in the best interest of the FCT.
Wike further warned property owners with outstanding ground rents to settle their debts or risk having their land titles revoked. He stated that his administration would provide a grace period for payment, but would not hesitate to revoke titles and reallocate the land to those willing to pay. In addition to addressing land matters, Wike announced plans to enhance security within the FCT. He revealed that 12 new police divisions were under construction across the FCT’s six area councils, in response to a request from the FCT Commissioner of Police. Wike pledged to hand over these new divisions, fully equipped and furnished, to the police by April 2025. He also highlighted the provision of 100 operational vehicles to federal security agencies in Abuja within the year, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of FCT residents.
Wike presented 50 operational vehicles to security agencies in the FCT, emphasizing the importance of security and the need for a proactive approach to crime prevention. He urged security agencies to utilize the vehicles, particularly in rural areas, to enhance their effectiveness during the festive period and beyond. The FCT Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, expressed gratitude for the vehicles and assured the minister that they would be deployed strategically to strengthen security operations, improve response times, and foster community partnerships. The allocation of the vehicles included 25 for the Nigeria Police Force FCT command, five each for the DSS, NSCDC, and the Nigerian Army Guards Brigade, two each for the Abuja Naval Unit and Nigeria Air Force Camp, and six for various FCT departments and agencies. This donation underscored the administration’s commitment to equipping security forces with the resources needed to maintain law and order in the FCT.
