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How FCTA Illegally Granted 500 Hectares of Land — Wike
During the 2023 budget defense and 2024 proposal session before the House Committee on FCT led by Hon. Aliyu Muktar Betara, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, meticulously described how a land director and a lawyer appointed by the FCT administration colluded to improperly allocate 500 hectares of land, complete with infrastructure, to an individual who subsequently sold off the land.
The Minister revealed that the Director of Land, embroiled in the controversy, issued the unlawful approval shortly after the departure of the former FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, on May 29, 2023.
It is worth noting that President Muhammadu Buhari and his cabinet members vacated their positions on May 29, 2023, handing over to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as per the stipulations of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
While insisting that the Director of Land lacks the capacity to act on behalf of the FCT Minister, Barrister Wike noted that Carl had last Thursday gotten a court injunction to stop the planned commissioning of the Sunrise Motor Park this week Friday, which he described as the biggest in West Africa and compared to Disney Park.
He noted that such infrastructure would attract investment, boost the administration’s revenue drives, and create employment for teeming Nigerians.
While giving an update on the Legal Services Secretariat’s proposed budget of N5,583,687,567, out of which N1.300 billion is for capital expenditure, Barrister Wike observed that the administration currently has more than 600 cases in courts across the territory.
He disclosed that “every year we have suits not less than 1,000, and all these require a lot of money. As we speak today, we have more than 600 judgements on FCT; some of them are legal, and some of them are civil servants.”
While noting that, “it’s very embarrassing that the former Minister left on May 29. In June, a Director of Land signed 500 hectares of land to an individual. And the individual, of course, goes to this court and gets judgement; the individual goes here and gets judgement; for me, such judgement will not stand. I’m going to demolish the plaza first if you tell our lawyer.
“There are certain things we cannot accept. So, whoever is involved, it doesn’t matter who is involved; the Director of Land cannot act as Minister; it cannot work,” he maintained.
Continuing, the FCT Minister said, “Do you know what this individual did? In connivance with the FCT lawyer, he went to court on Thursday to get an order stopping the commissioning of this park.
“Of course, this is a state; I have to take the file away from the lawyer… I don’t know if anyone can come to you.
“If you’re given 500 hectares, as I thought, you are authorised to do mass housing. Now what they are doing is allocating land to an individual and selling it.
“I’ve never seen that. One man covers 500 hectares. Meanwhile, the government has provided infrastructure. So, when you hear it, as your friend and brother, you have heard it now,” he told the lawmakers of the looming problem his decision may cause.
In the update regarding this year’s budget proposal, the Minister unveiled a fiscal outline totaling N1,147,780,610,283 for the FCT 2024 Statutory Budget. This sum includes N510,364,426,028 for distributable revenue and N637,416,184,256 for non-distributable revenue, following extensive consultations with all Revenue Generating Agencies of the FCTA.
Compared to the Revised 2023 Appropriation totaling N641,247,685,792, the 2024 statutory budget proposal reflects a notable increase of N506,532,924,491.44 (44%).
According to him, the increase was a result of the expected loan from the Commercial Bank in the sum of N500 billion.
For overhead costs, the FCT Minister disclosed that the sum of N280,527,373,668 (24.44%) was proposed for the 2024 fiscal year against an appropriation of the sum of N135,413,919,180 in the 2023 fiscal year, representing an increase of N145,113,454,488.64 (52%), in order to address some critical overhead costs.
Under the Capital Expenditure, the Minister proposed the sum of N726,338,232,759 representing 63.28% for 2024 for the development of infrastructure with emphasis on completion of ongoing projects, showing a 44% increase over the 2023 Revised Appropriation of the sum of N406,298,063,083.
For the education sector, the minister proposed a sum of N80.3 billion, out of which N56 billion is for recurrent expenditure and N24 billion is for capital expenditure, which includes the sum of N2 billion as UBEB counterpart funding in the 2024 Statutory Budget.
For the health sector, the FCTA proposed a sum of N45.7 billion, out of which the sum of N35.5 billion is for recurrent expenditure, which includes the sum of N1.3 billion for the Drug Revolving Fund, while the sum of N10.2 billion is for capital expenditure.
The FCT 2024 Statutory Budget aims to finalize the construction of hospitals in Gwagwalada, Gwarimpa, and Utako Districts, enhancing the capabilities of select hospitals by acquiring modern ambulances for eight FCTA hospitals.
Concerning the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) budget proposal, the FCT Minister outlined a budget of N1,154,913,273 allocated to enhance the state-of-the-art geo-spatial data infrastructure and manage the Land Information System, ultimately boosting revenue generation.
As for the Area Council Services Secretariat (ACSS), a budget proposal of N4,152,146,290 was put forward to ensure efficient service delivery for rural transformation, elevate citizens’ quality of life, and reinforce traditional institutions as potent tools for grassroots mobilization to accomplish the developmental objectives of the FCT Administration.
The Lagos State Government has said it would soon arrange a meeting with developers/owners of distressed buildings on how best to address the redesign and remodelling of such structures by November.
This was disclosed recently by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, at a function in Alahusa, Lagos.
Olumide said the prevalence of distressed buildings in different parts of the state was worrisome and needed the urgent attention of all stakeholders.
He said, “The Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development as mandated by the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2019, as amended, was willing to extend its responsibility for approving the remodelling of existing buildings to provide technical assistance to developers and owners of distressed buildings, especially on the design and remodelling of such buildings.
The Federal Government has instructed the contractors responsible for the 107km Enugu-Onitsha road dualization to expedite the project.
This directive was given by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during a meeting with MTN, the Enugu State Government, and the contractors, RCC Ltd and Nigercat Ltd, on Friday.
According to a statement released on Friday, the minister said he is disappointed over the slow pace of work on the project, he said, “Let me express my disappointment over the slow pace of work on that project. It is one of the worst roads in this country.
“Everywhere we have diversion; diverting from the one that RCC and Nigercat had completed, the contractors are not kind enough to even put stone based on the diversion points.”
He added, “So, by the reason of the launching of our Operation Free our Roads, it is now a violation of the policy on the side of the controllers and directors of the Federal Ministry of Works where we have vehicles falling on any project that is ongoing or where there are potholes on our roads.”
He also blamed the sufferings of road users on the lack of commitment and insensitivity of the contractors.
“The public must know that the President’s intention is not for them to suffer while trying to fix the roads, and it is their right to insist that contractors should fix the roads that they are engaged on,” he said.
The Minister commended the Enugu state government for their resolve to fund the construction of a 20 KM section of the road and expressed hope that MTN would execute the second phase of the project.
He noted, “Why the Enugu State government is intervening is because of the slow pace of work by the contractors and because of funding issues. The essence of tax credit is for funds to be made available. And so, I don’t see RCC going to keep their promise to finish this project in 6 months.
“My advice to MTN is to look for another contractor within that axis if they want to get the job done. Division of labour is even the best. While they are doing the road, and if Nigercat is doing a good job, you can give them greater scope to do if you want to finish that job.”
He warned contractors that the Federal Government would not accept phased handovers of projects and has phased out Variation of Price in contract administration.
The Ekiti State government has intervened to resolve a longstanding land dispute between the Elepe of Epe-Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Adesoye, and the Atolagbe family. The government cautioned against the misuse of modernization as an excuse to disregard traditional customs.
In line with the community’s traditions, the government has ordered the release of resources, including palm trees at Oko Oba Farmland, to Oba Adesoye for his administration. This decision ensures the continued adherence to age-old practices.
Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, announced the resolution in Ado-Ekiti. The decision was made after considering the Elepe’s claim to Oko Oba Farmland based on historical evidence.
Mrs. Afuye acknowledged the Elepe’s right to be the custodian of Oko Oba Farmland, citing longstanding traditions that support his claim. The decision reflects the importance of respecting historical practices and ensuring their preservation.
The deputy governor, however, told the monarch in clear terms that other princes and princesses from all the three ruling houses should be allowed to farm on the land without payment of royalty.
Mrs Afuye appealed to the community to comply with the government’s position to restore unity, peace and orderliness to the beleaguered community.
Oba Adesoye expressed gratitude for the government’s decision and pledged to foster peace and unity between the throne and the community, aiming to accelerate Epe’s development.
Representing the Atolagbe family, Dr. Yemi Agbeleoba acknowledged their willingness to cede Oko Oba Farmland to the monarch. However, he emphasized the need for all three ruling houses to participate for a lasting and traditional solution.
Agbeleoba expressed appreciation for the government’s directive, believing it will contribute to resolving the long-standing conflict.
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