FCT Minister Wike: ASUU Demands Reversal in UniAbuja Land Dispute

• The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UniAbuja branch, demands the reversal of alleged unlawful land allocation by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
• ASUU has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing land dispute involving the University of Abuja.
• A Maitama High Court order on August 18 restrained Minister Wike from encroaching on university land, but ASUU alleges he proceeded with allocations on September 26.
• Minister Wike had previously announced the retrieval of 7,000 hectares from the university's 11,000-hectare allocation, accusing the institution of land grabbing.
• ASUU warns of potential industrial action if the FCT Minister fails to reverse the allocations, asserting the university's legitimate claim to its 11,824 hectares for long-term development.

Despite this clear court order, the union asserts that Minister Wike proceeded on September 26 to allocate portions of the university land to various companies and individuals.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch, has issued a strong demand for the immediate reversal of what it describes as the unlawful allocation of the institution's land by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. The union has also appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to intervene and call Minister Wike to order regarding the contentious land dispute, emphasizing that such intervention is crucial for maintaining peace and harmony within the university campus.

These demands were articulated by Professor Sylvanus Ugoh, the Chairperson of the ASUU UniAbuja branch, during a press conference held in Abuja. The event, which highlighted the escalating tensions over the University of Abuja land allocation, was specifically titled "Ministerial Encroachment into University of Abuja Land: Some Points to Ponder," underscoring the union's grave concerns about the FCT Minister Wike UniAbuja land dispute.

Central to the union's grievance is the alleged disregard for judicial authority by the FCT Minister. Professor Ugoh explicitly stated that Minister Wike's actions constitute an outright breach and total disregard for the rule of law. He pointed out that Justice F.E. Mesiri of the Maitama High Court had, on August 18, issued interlocutory injunctions, which included a specific order restraining the FCT Minister from entering or encroaching upon the university's land.

Despite this clear court order, the union asserts that Minister Wike proceeded on September 26 to allocate portions of the university land to various companies and individuals. This move, according to ASUU, directly contravenes the judicial directive. The Minister, however, had previously announced on June 30, 2025, during the inauguration of an access road to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Institute in Giri, his intention to retrieve 7,000 hectares from the 11,000 hectares initially allocated to the university. At that time, Wike accused the university of land grabbing and fencing off significant portions without proper approval or documentation, a claim the union vehemently refutes, citing overwhelming documentary evidence supporting the university's legitimate allocation.

The University of Abuja, established on January 1, 1988, was initially granted an extensive land allocation of 11,824 hectares. This substantial area was intended to accommodate the institution's long-term academic and infrastructural development needs. ASUU clarified that the university authorities did not independently decide on the institution's location; both the university and its land are the property of the Federal Government, not the FCT administration.

The union further explained that the large landmass was deliberately provided to facilitate future expansion, support diverse research activities, develop essential academic facilities, and meet other institutional requirements. As a dual-mode institution offering both conventional and distance learning programs, the University of Abuja requires sufficient land to fulfill its broad mandate. This includes space for establishing research institutes, innovation centers, and other facilities vital for national development. Additionally, portions of the land are designated as green areas, contributing to ecological balance, environmental conservation, and climate change mitigation efforts.

While acknowledging that the development of the University of Abuja may appear slow, ASUU firmly maintains that the responsibility for its progress lies with the Federal Government. The union appreciates the FCT Minister's enthusiasm for developing the Federal Capital Territory but dismisses the argument that the land has remained undeveloped for too long as a justification for its retrieval. They argue that universities typically realize their full potential gradually.

ASUU emphasized that the 11,824 hectares allocated to the University of Abuja is not excessive for a dual-mode university situated in the nation's capital. To support this, the union cited examples of other Nigerian universities with comparable or larger land holdings, such as the University of Ilorin with 15,000 hectares, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, with 13,000 hectares, Federal University of Technology, Minna, with 10,650 hectares, and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, with 10,000 hectares. The union has warned that it will no longer guarantee industrial harmony if Minister Wike fails to reverse the alleged allocation of the university's land to his "friends and cronies," signaling a potential ASUU UniAbuja industrial action threat.

This case highlights the challenges of enforcing judicial orders against high-ranking government officials in Nigeria, particularly concerning land allocation in the FCT. Lawyers advising clients on land disputes or development projects in Abuja should be aware of the potential for executive disregard of court injunctions and the implications for legal strategy and risk assessment.

Source: Original reporting via Agency Report