The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the arrest of individuals and demolition of buildings illegally constructed on plots allocated to foreign missions in the Diplomatic Zone of Katampe Extension, Abuja.
The affected land in Katampe Extension was originally allocated on March 18, 2008, to 10 embassies for diplomatic residential purposes, while a portion was reserved for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria for a 132/133KV power station.
Speaking with journalists during an inspection tour of projects in the capital city, Wike said the FCT Administration discovered that an individual had illegally taken over the land and erected buildings without approval from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). He said 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,” the minister said.
According to him, 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 Organization.
He noted that the FCT Administration had begun notifying the missions to take possession of their allocated plots.
Wike also confirmed the arrest of the suspected developer, Kabiru Sahara, who is currently being investigated by the police and will be charged to court.
“The man has been arrested and he will be charged to 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 in Abuja, including the redesigned Abuja City Gate and the road from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport along Bill Clinton Drive to the Tunga Madaki community, which will be extended to Zuba.
Other projects inspected include the road linking Baze University, the Body of Benchers (Nigeria), Nile University of Nigeria and the Wupa Light Rail Station in the Idu area of Abuja, as well as the office annex for the Body of Benchers.
Wike said many of the projects, handled by construction firms such as Julius Berger Nigeria, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Levant Construction, are expected to be completed in time for inauguration during the third anniversary of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He added that the infrastructure projects are aimed at opening up new communities and improving connectivity within the capital, noting that residents of areas such as Tungan-Madaki have welcomed the development as it will link them more directly to the city.