FCT: Wike Orders Demolition of Illegal Buildings on Embassy Land

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the demolition of buildings constructed illegally on land allocated to foreign embassies in Katampe Extension, Abuja. Wike made the announcement on Friday while addressing journalists during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory. He said the buildings were constructed without […]

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the demolition of buildings constructed illegally on land allocated to foreign embassies in Katampe Extension, Abuja.

Wike made the announcement on Friday while addressing journalists during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory.

He said the buildings were constructed without approval from the Federal Capital Development Authority and described the development as a land invasion.

According to the minister, the plots were originally allocated on March 18, 2008, to several diplomatic missions for residential purposes.

However, he said a developer later took over the land and began constructing buildings without authorisation.

Wike directed the FCT Department of Development Control to demolish all the structures on the land and restore the plots to their original purpose.

He also disclosed that the developer responsible for the construction had been arrested and would soon face prosecution.

The embassies affected by the land allocation include Thailand, Bulgaria, Syria, Somalia, Serbia and Montenegro, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Senegal, and the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

A section of the land had also been reserved for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria for the construction of a 132/133KV power station.

The minister said the affected embassies would be formally notified so they could take possession of their allocated land.

He also expressed optimism that several ongoing infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory would be completed ahead of the third anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.