Residents of Jikoko Community in Mpape, Bwari Area Council of Abuja, on Tuesday protested what they described as the unlawful takeover of their land and demolition of their properties by private developers.
The protesters carried placards with messages including, “What we want is justice! We want our land back,” “Abuja land grabbers, allow the poor to breathe,” and “Minister Wike please help us to secure our land.”
The landowners claimed they had valid titles allocated by the Bwari Area Council between 1999 and 2003, before recent Supreme Court rulings concerning the authority of area councils to allocate land.
They alleged that private developers demolished existing fences, foundations and other structures on the properties without prior notification or revocation letters.
The protesters also alleged that the developers obtained building approvals at a suspicious speed and called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Capital Development Authority to intervene.
They urged the authorities to restore their lands and investigate what they described as possible corruption or administrative irregularities surrounding the alleged takeover.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the protesters, Mr Emma Okorie estimated that between 50 and 100 hectares of land belonging to various owners were being taken over.
He argued that the current revocations were unlawful because the affected landowners had not received official revocation letters or been formally informed about the decisions.
Okorie said one of the developers he confronted claimed that 45 companies had received allocations in the area, with his own estate alone receiving about six hectares.
He said the development was contrary to the government’s policy of making housing affordable for Nigerians.
Okorie noted that while the President’s Renewed Hope housing programme was intended to increase access to housing, not everyone could benefit from it, adding that some residents had already acquired land where they intended to build homes for themselves and their families.
He questioned the basis for taking the land from existing owners and argued that the Supreme Court pronouncement on the authority of area councils to allocate land should not be applied retrospectively to allocations made before the judgment.
According to him, some of the original landowners had died and were therefore unable to personally participate in the protest.
Okorie appealed to the FCT Minister to intervene and determine whether he was aware of the alleged takeover or whether the actions were being carried out by some officials of the FCDA.
He disclosed that the affected residents had also approached the Bwari Area Council, which issued the original land documents, but alleged that the council failed to intervene.
Another protester, Mr Kamorudeen Olalekan, said the developers claimed that the land had been reallocated to them by the FCT administration and that they had been issued Certificates of Occupancy.
Olalekan appealed to the authorities to reconsider the situation and return the land to the original owners.
He questioned why the properties were being taken away without revocation letters or any formal communication to the affected landowners.
The protesters also called on the National Assembly to intervene in the dispute and help protect the interests of the affected landowners.
