The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the arrest of one Kabiru Sahara, who illegally took over a piece of land and erected buildings without the federal government’s approval.
Addressing newsmen during an inspection tour of projects in Abuja, the minister disclosed that the affected land, located within the Diplomatic Zone, Katampe Extension in the Federal Capital Territory, was originally allocated on March 18, 2008, to 10 embassies for diplomatic residential purposes, while a portion was also reserved for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria for a 132/133KV power station.
Wike stated that the affected plots were allocated to diplomatic missions, including those of Thailand, Bulgaria, Syria, Somalia, Serbia and Montenegro, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Senegal and the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
He said the FCT Administration had begun notifying the missions to take possession of their allocated land.
The minister also stated that the Department of Development Control had been directed to remove all illegal structures.
“This land was allocated to various embassies. Somebody just came here, took the land and started developing it on his own without approval from the FCDA. We cannot allow this kind of land invasion to continue,” he said.
He confirmed that the suspected developer had been arrested and would be prosecuted after ongoing investigations by the police.
“The man has been arrested, and he will be charged in court. The police are carrying out their investigations and he will be charged to court any moment from now,” he said.
The minister spoke after inspecting several ongoing infrastructure projects across Abuja, including the redesigned Abuja City Gate, road from Bill Clinton Drive of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the Tunga Madaki community, which will now be extended to Zuba, the road linking Baze University, Body of Benchers, Nile University and the Wupa Light Rail Station in Idu Area of Abuja, as well as the Office Annex for the Body of Benchers
He said many of the projects, being handled by firms such as Julius Berger Nigeria, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Levant Construction, would be completed in time for inauguration during the third anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in office.
