FCT Minister Wike: Dismisses UniAbuja ASUU Land Dispute

• FCT Minister Nyesom Wike dismissed a strike threat from the University of Abuja ASUU chapter regarding land reallocation.
• Wike asserted that FCT land administration falls under the FCTA's exclusive jurisdiction, not ASUU's.
• The FCTA justified the reallocation as necessary for proper land use, urban planning, and development, citing undeveloped university land.
• The University of Abuja ASUU chapter claims the reallocated 11,824 hectares in Guri District are vital for the institution's future expansion and research.
• Wike stated the FCTA is prepared to defend its land reallocation decisions in court and will not succumb to strike threats.

This development signals the FCTA's firm stance on land administration and its readiness to defend reallocations in court, potentially impacting property rights, urban planning compliance, and development projects in the FCT.

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike recently dismissed a potential strike by the University of Abuja chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The union had threatened industrial action in response to the reallocation of portions of the institution's land to both private developers and government agencies. Speaking during his monthly media chat on Thursday, Minister Wike challenged ASUU's right to intervene in such matters, questioning their authority over land ownership or allocation within the FCT.

Wike explicitly stated that land administration falls squarely within the purview of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). He rejected ASUU's accusations of "land grabbing," asking pointedly, "What is the business of ASUU on our land? How is ASUU the owner of land? Is ASUU the owner of the union in Nigeria now? Is it the union’s right?" This firm stance underscores the FCTA's position that ASUU lacks the mandate to dictate land use policy in the capital.

The Minister further justified the FCTA's decision by questioning the university's retention of thousands of hectares of undeveloped land. He argued that the government bears a fundamental responsibility to ensure the proper utilization of land and strict adherence to the FCT master plan. According to Wike, the reallocation of university land parcels forms an integral part of the FCTA's ongoing efforts to enforce urban planning regulations and stimulate development across the territory.

This approach aligns with a broader FCTA land recovery policy, aiming to optimize land use for the benefit of the entire capital. Wike emphasized that the administration's actions are driven by a commitment to statutory responsibilities, ensuring that land resources contribute effectively to the FCT's planned growth and infrastructure needs, rather than remaining fallow.

Minister Wike also addressed ASUU's threat to challenge the reallocation decision in court. Legal proceedings have since been initiated, with an interlocutory injunction issued by the Maitama High Court on August 18, 2026, restraining the FCT Minister from entering or encroaching on the university's land. The FCTA, however, remains prepared to defend its actions.

The Minister criticized the use of strike threats as a means to pressure the government, describing such tactics as "blackmail." He made it clear that the administration would not yield to such demands, reinforcing the FCTA's assertive enforcement of land use regulations. This signals a firm resolve to uphold its land management decisions, even in the face of potential litigation.

The dispute originated from a press conference held by Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, Chairman of the University of Abuja ASUU chapter. Dr. Ugoh had warned that the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony on campus if the Minister failed to reverse the land allocations. He highlighted that the university was originally granted 11,824 hectares of land within the Guri District of the FCT, a vast area deemed crucial for its long-term expansion, agricultural research, and infrastructure development.

ASUU expressed significant concern over the allocation of these portions to private developers and various government agencies, insisting that the university's allocated land should be safeguarded from encroachment. This development signals the FCTA's firm stance on land administration and its readiness to defend reallocations in court, potentially impacting property rights, urban planning compliance, and development projects in the FCT. Lawyers should advise clients on the FCTA's assertive enforcement of land use regulations and prepare for potential litigation challenging land titles or allocations.

This development signals the FCTA's firm stance on land administration and its readiness to defend reallocations in court, potentially impacting property rights, urban planning compliance, and development projects in the FCT. Lawyers should advise clients on the FCTA's assertive enforcement of land use regulations and prepare for potential litigation challenging land titles or allocations.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers