The Federal Government is considering the demolition of approximately 6,000 illegal structures spread across 30 areas within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). During his inaugural press conference on Monday, August 21, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, emphasized the necessity of restoring Abuja’s master plan, with no tolerance for any kind of distortion.

Minister Nyesom Wike also announced his intention to revoke the Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) for those who have neglected to develop their lands. He further stressed his commitment to impartially executing his duties, even if it means taking action against illegal structures owned by government officials such as ministers or ambassadors.

“All those people who are distorting the master plan of Abuja, too bad. If you know you have built where you are not supposed to build, it will go down. 

“Be you a minister of anywhere, be you an ambassador, if you know you have developed where you were not supposed to develop, your house must go down. “Those who have taken over the green areas to build; sorry, our parks must come back, the green areas must come back. If you hate green, you must hate yourself.’’ 

Additionally, he threatened to revoke the lands that the federal government had allotted to people who had not developed them over an extended period of time.

Wike said: “We will take back our land and give to those who want to develop, and you must sign that you must develop at so and so time.’’ 

Muktar Galadima, the director of the FCTA Department of Development Control, commented on the demolition of illegal structures, saying, “We would find time to go back and conduct a new survey. As of February 2022, 6,000 abandoned houses were identified.” 

As reported by Punch, the potential removal of illegal structures is anticipated to have repercussions across a minimum of thirty specific areas within the Federal Capital Territory. The areas in question are as follows:

1. Apo Mechanic Village

2. Byanzhin

3. Dawaki

4. Dei Dei

5. Durumi

6. Dutse

7. Garki

8. Garki Village

9. Gishiri

10. Gwagwalape

11. Idu

12. Jabi

13. Kado Village

14. Karmo

15. Karshi

16. Karu

17. Katampe

18. Ketti Village

19. Kpaduma

20. Kabusa

21. Kpana Village

22. Kubwa

23. Lokogoma

24. Lugbe

25. Mabushi

26. Mpape

27. Nyanya

28. Piya Kasa

Additionally, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who also formerly served as the governor of Rivers State, expressed his determination to put an end to open grazing within Abuja. He emphasized his intent to consult with herders as he assumes office in Abuja on Monday, August 21, with a strong commitment to cleansing and improving the state of the FCT.