Senate orders Wike to halt Abuja house demolitions in response to concerns about alleged irregularities and the hardships the demolitions are causing. The Senate has also summoned the minister to appear before a special committee set up to investigate the demolition activities. The committee, led by Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau, has been given two weeks to complete its investigation and present a report.
This decision was triggered by a motion raised during the Senate plenary by Senator Ireti Kingibe (Labour Party – FCT), which was supported by Senator Natasha Akpabio-Uduaghan (PDP – Kogi Central). While announcing the resolution, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed the need to suspend all demolitions until a thorough investigation is conducted.
He said, “The Senate urges the Federal Capital Development Authority to stop further demolitions of structures, except those ordered by courts of competent jurisdiction, until the ad hoc committee concludes its investigation and interfaces with the FCT administration within the next two weeks.”
In her lead debate, Senator Ireti Kingibe expressed concerns about the demolition exercise, highlighting that it frequently strayed from due process. She pointed out that many affected individuals had experienced significant losses from demolitions that seemed unwarranted.
She said,“In recent times, the demolition exercise in the FCT was no longer based on reasons that necessitated the demolition. A cross-section of individuals have suffered untold hardships occasioned by massive demolition, which has led to a loss of properties worth billions of naira.”
Senator Ireti Kingibe specifically drew attention to the ongoing revocation and demolition of Messrs Paulosa Estate, which was chaired by the late Colonel Paul Osakpawan Ogbebor. She explained that the land had been properly allocated to him in 1984, complete with all necessary documentation.
Kingibe urged the Senate to ensure that demolitions only proceed when due process is followed. She also called for an investigation into the issue. However, during the debate, Senator Karimi Sunday (APC – Kogi West) cautioned against halting demolitions without first hearing from the FCT Minister.
He said, “We need to investigate this matter before giving any directive. We must hear from the minister. You cannot shave a man’s head at his back.” Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (APC – Ondo Central), who chairs the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, disagreed with Senator Karimi Sunday.
He backed the motion to halt the demolitions, stressing the importance of fairness and the need to prevent irreversible actions while the investigation is ongoing. “Are we saying that we should allow the place to be demolished while we are trying to look into it? What is fair is to say stop the situation today and let us investigate,” Adegbonmire argued.
Backing Adegbonmire’s stance, Akpabio stated, “If we just say, continue the demolition, and then we start investigating, what are we then investigating? It’s important for us to ensure that demolitions are in the best interest of Nigerians and follow proper procedures.”
The Senate has resolved to urge the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to immediately halt all further demolitions in Abuja and directed an ad hoc committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. The committee, which includes prominent senators such as Deputy Senate Leader Oyelola Ashir and Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, has been given two weeks to submit its findings.
Wike Dismisses Land Grabbing Allegations
Meanwhile, Minister Wike, speaking at the handover of 50 operational vehicles to FCT security agencies on Thursday, dismissed allegations of land grabbing, describing them as attempts to blackmail his administration. He emphasized that the FCT Administration would enforce compliance with land regulations regardless of an individual’s status or influence.
The controversy follows accusations from social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, who alleged that land belonging to Paullosa Nigeria Ltd was revoked and reallocated to Saravera Nigeria Limited and House Majority Leader Kingsley Chinda.
Wike addressed these criticisms, stating that despite social media attacks and claims of favoritism, he remains focused on doing what is best for the FCT. “Let me use this opportunity to tell Nigerians and residents of Abuja, that we are not afraid of blackmail, particularly as regards this Abuja, there are so many land grabbers.”
“We will stop anybody who thinks that they can obtain government land for whatever reason, without formal approval. We will not look at your face. “If you like, you can be a civil rights activist. If you like, you can be a television talker; what is wrong is wrong.
“People take government property without approval, without documents. And I have told people that there was a government yesterday that did not take any steps does not mean that another government will come today and will not take steps.”
“You are a squatter. You tell people to beg me, then you go on television to tell people that they came to take your land, and you said the land was allocated to a Rivers man. So what? “A Rivers man is not entitled to have a land in Abuja? You tell me who is that person that is entitled to have a land in Abuja,” he said.
The minister also issued a warning to individuals and organizations owing ground rents in the FCT, urging them to settle their debts promptly or face the risk of having their land titles revoked. “All those who have not paid, who thought we were joking, I will revoke all. I am going to do it. You think nothing will happen, something will happen.”
“Go and check your records. If you have not paid, I will give you time to pay. But once the time expires, I will revoke it, and allocate it to those who will pay,” he said.Wike further announced that his administration plans to hand over 12 newly established police divisions to the FCT Commissioner of Police by April 2025.
