WIKE ORDERS DEMOLITION OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ON EMBASSY LANDS
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the demolition of buildings illegally erected on plots originally allocated to foreign embassies in Abuja.
The minister gave the directive after inspecting the diplomatic zone in Katampe Extension where a private developer allegedly encroached on land meant for diplomatic use without approval from the Federal Capital Development Authority.
Wike said the land was allocated in 2008 to several missions including the Palestine Liberation Organization, Somalia, Thailand, Austria, Serbia and Montenegro, Switzerland, Senegal, Syria, Japan and Bulgaria for residential facilities for embassy staff. Part of the area was also reserved for a power station for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.
He stressed that illegal takeover of land within diplomatic districts would no longer be tolerated, noting that authorities have been directed to remove every structure built on the disputed plots. The government, he added, will also notify the embassies to take possession of their allocated lands.
Wike confirmed that the developer behind the illegal construction has been arrested and will face prosecution after police investigations.
The minister also inspected ongoing infrastructure projects across Abuja and assured that the works will be completed in time for the third anniversary of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.