Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has refuted allegations of political victimisation over his controversial land revocation policy.
News360 Info reports that Wike made this known during a courtesy visit by the board of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) to his office in Abuja.
Wike declared that he has the legal right to reclaim and reassign lands from individuals and entities who failed to develop them or pay their dues.
The Minister stated that he had never unjustifiably revoked land, stressing that his actions were based solely on legal and regulatory grounds.
He said, “I have never revoked land for political reasons, and I have never given revoked land to someone else unjustly. You can’t revoke land on public grounds and hand it over to another person.
“But if you fail to comply with development guidelines, don’t pay ground rent, or abandon land for years, I have the right to revoke and reassign it.”
Speaking further, Wike expressed frustration at what he described as a culture of entitlement among Nigerians, where citizens demand development and services but refuse to fulfil their own obligations.
He noted, “People twist facts without even asking questions. Everyone wants roads, services, and development, but nobody wants to pay.
“People generate waste in their kitchens and expect the government to pick it up for free. Everything is expected to be free. You want roads built with blood. It doesn’t work that way. We must learn to comply with simple rules.”
Wike also warned the SSDC board against the internal squabbles and financial recklessness that had plagued other intervention agencies.
He added, “Today, you are united because there’s no project and no money yet. But the moment ₦50billion drops and someone spends it without approval, fights will start.”
