CurrentReport Blog Lere Olayinka, the media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations of land grabbing against the minister, urging accusers to provide concrete evidence.
Olayinka issued the challenge in a statement on Wednesday while responding to a viral video concerning a disputed land in the Life Camp area of Abuja. The land has been claimed by some individuals who allege it was unjustly taken.
According to Olayinka, anyone asserting ownership of the land should produce a Certificate of Occupancy issued by the FCT Administration (FCTA). He criticized the spread of misinformation on social media, urging people to verify facts from both parties before making accusations public.
The Disputed Land and Its History
The spokesperson detailed that the disputed land had been occupied by Paulosa Nigeria Limited under a temporary right of occupancy granted in 1984. The company reportedly used the land for a temporary office but went on to construct permanent structures and rent them out without government approval.
In November 2020, Paulosa Nigeria Limited applied for the conversion of its temporary right to a statutory right of occupancy. Approval was granted in February 2023, subject to specific terms, including:
- Ground rent payment of N50K/m² from 2022 to 2023, totaling N2,332,143.
- Premium payment of N500/m², amounting to N11,660,715.
- Ground rent arrears from 1984 to 2021, totaling N43,144,645.
Non-Compliance and Revocation
Despite the approval, Olayinka revealed that Paulosa Nigeria Limited failed to meet the stipulated terms for over 20 months. Consequently, the FCTA revoked the approval on October 10, 2024.
The media aide emphasized that the revocation was based on the company’s prolonged non-compliance, not a land grab by the minister or the FCTA.
Call for Evidence
Olayinka urged individuals spreading claims of land grabbing to provide legitimate evidence of ownership. He also warned self-styled social media activists against being manipulated into propagating false narratives.
“The most reasonable thing for anyone to do is to find out from both sides before going public with any issue,” he stated.
This clarification comes as Wike’s administration faces increasing scrutiny over land administration in the FCT.
The FCT administration continues to defend its actions as lawful and transparent. As the controversy unfolds, stakeholders and citizens are urged to rely on verifiable facts to avoid misinformation.
