Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has publicly criticized the University of Abuja for what he deems an unnecessary and excessive accumulation of idle land. The Minister voiced his concerns during a recent inspection of the Giri area, where he was assessing the progress of a new access road for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Training School.
Speaking to Channels TV during the tour, Minister Wike expressed his disapproval after observing vast tracts of undeveloped land reportedly under the control of the University of Abuja. He questioned the justification for the institution holding onto such a significant amount of land without visible signs of development.
“This inspection has highlighted the sheer scale of land under the University’s control. It’s difficult to justify such a large acquisition. A university should not obstruct progress,” Wike stated emphatically. He further drew a comparison with international standards, saying, “We’ve visited other institutions, including those in Ghana, and land acquisition isn’t the benchmark—actual development is.”
Minister Wike stressed that many universities across the globe, particularly citing examples from Ghana, have achieved remarkable levels of infrastructure and academic excellence on much smaller campuses. He urged Nigerian universities to adopt a more efficient and purposeful approach to land management, prioritizing development over simply acquiring vast amounts of land.
Taking the opportunity to clarify the legal standing of land within the Federal Capital Territory, Minister Wike reminded institutions and individuals that possessing a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) does not equate to absolute ownership. “You can’t deny development to the people,” he asserted. “I don’t know why a university will take over 1,000 hectares of land—for what purpose? Grabbing land is not the whole thing; it’s about development.”
Minister Wike’s outspoken criticism is anticipated to spark a renewed focus on the issue of land utilization within Abuja, particularly as the FCT administration actively pursues infrastructural development and aims for more effective and responsible land management practices.
