On Tuesday, the Nyesom Wike-led delegation from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) descended on Plot 1946, Buffer Transit-Southern Parkway, Gaduwa District, Abuja. The visit was triggered by reports that development work was underway on the land without valid approval or title — and that soldiers had blocked enforcement officials from halting it.
Setting the scene:
FCTA officials, under Wike’s directive, had earlier sought to enforce a stop-work order on the site, because the land in question had no valid documented allocation or building approvals in the records of the Department of Development Control. When the enforcement team arrived, they were reportedly chased off by armed soldiers operating at the site. Wike says this brought the matter directly to his desk.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Monday stormed Plot 1946 in Gaduwa District, Abuja, following reports that soldiers had taken over the disputed parcel of land allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd).
Speaking during the unscheduled visit, Wike expressed anger that government officials from the FCT Department of Development Control were chased away from the site by armed soldiers while attempting to enforce a stop-work order earlier issued by his office.
The soldiers had blocked entry into the plot with a truck and physically prevented the minister who had tried to make his way in.
Wike said the incident was brought to his attention after the FCT authorities discovered that the developers had no valid documents or legal approval for the property.
“You are aware that the land departments and Development Control have been mandated to monitor illegal developments and land grabbing in the FCT.
“When this matter was brought to my attention, I directed that nothing should take place on that plot since there were no legal documents or urban regional approvals. Unfortunately, I was informed that soldiers chased our officials away”, he said.
Wike said he was surprised to learn that the soldiers allegedly acting on the instructions of the former Naval Chief had taken over the property.
“I don’t understand how someone who once occupied such a high office cannot come to the FCT Minister to explain his situation but instead uses soldiers to intimidate people. I am not one of those who will succumb to blackmail or intimidation”, he added.
According to him, when development control officials asked for the necessary land documents and building approvals, none were produced.
“How can we continue to allow lawlessness to prevail in this country? What about those who do not have the military or security forces to protect them?” Wike queried.
The Minister condemned any attempt to use security operatives to frustrate legitimate government enforcement actions, stressing that such behaviour would not be tolerated under his watch.
He disclosed that he had already spoken with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that the matter would be resolved amicably.
“We are not here for confrontation or to cause chaos, but I will not allow illegality to thrive. The same way we enforce the law in other parts of Abuja is the same way we will do here. No one, not even a former Chief of Naval Staff, is above the law,” Wike declared.
The FCT Administration had in recent months intensified efforts to curb land racketeering and illegal developments across the territory, with several high-profile properties already demolished for noncompliance with planning regulations.
An account by an unnamed eye-witness, circulating on social media gives a detail story of the events leading to the showdown.
It reads: “Good afternoon, sir. The incident occurred at Gaduwa before Games Village at about 1255. The land was acquired by VADM AZ GAMBO in 2020 with all the legal documents. In September 25, the Admiral decided to develop his land, and after about a week, the Development Control Council came around and asked for the documents and building approval, which the engineer showed them. After two days, they came back and stated that the land had been revoked by the current FCT Minister with no conditions provided. Efforts have been made to reach out to him to ask why, but there are no concrete or genuine reasons. They came to stop the work, which prompted us to pursue them. The Minister came around on Saturday and issued enough threats stating that they were coming to bring the building down. Earlier today, around 11 AM, two bulldozers from Development Control came to bring the building down, but we refused them. They called him, and then he sent the FCT Commissioner of Police. Despite all efforts being abortive, he came down himself, and that’s when we blocked him from the entrance and did not grant him access to the facility.He had to call the Chief of Defence Staff and report the matter The CDS spoke with the officer that they should come down they are on top of the situation, sir. Thank you, sir
Fresh details have emerged on the land dispute that triggered Tuesday’s confrontation between the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and soldiers who stopped him and his officials from entering a property in Gudu district, Abuja.
Speaking exclusively to SaharaReporters, a legal practitioner involved in the case explained that the disputed 30-hectare land was initially allocated to serving and retired military personnel but was later revoked by the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The lawyer said that the same was reallocated to Wike’s political associates, including a top ally alleged to be the current Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan.
The source who has been directly engaged in the matter, said the revocation and redistribution were carried out “in total disregard of due process, official recommendations, and existing approvals.”
“I am personally involved as a lawyer in this matter and several other cases of revocation and reallocation of land to private persons by Wike,” the source said.
“Wike revoked the land which totals 30 hectares and allocated it to some persons, one of whom we were told in confidence is the current INEC Chairman. Unfortunately for Wike, a former naval chief (Awwal Gambo) and some serving army personnel have vested interests in the land and have partly developed the same.”
The source claimed that the land was originally designated as park and recreation area, but Wike allegedly “changed the land use to multi-purpose” and issued fresh Rights of Occupancy (RofO) to new beneficiaries.
In a letter dated 17th May, 2022, and addressed to the MD/CEO, Santos Estate Limited, the author, Hajiya Riskatu Abdulazeez, the Director, Parks & Recreation Department, said, “This is with reference to your letter dated 21 February, 2022 on the above subject-matter.
“In view of the above, please NOTE as follows: a. The development, management and operation of ideal Recreational Parks, especially on large Green Areas, require huge financial investment and therefore, the Policy trust of FCTA on Park development is centred mostly on collaboration with private organisations. Occasionally large Green Areas are sub-divided into lots (A,B,C, etc) to accommodate various applications for Parks development.
“b. Green Area Plot 1946, CZ B13, Gaduwa is very large with a size of about 31 Hectares. It is part of the Parkway System within Gaduwa District. Available records indicate that in 2007, this Green Area was sub-divided into lots and committed to various organisations, including: 1. Santos Estates Limited 2. Curio International Ventures 3. Curio Communications Limited
iv. Mozad Ventures Limited V. Decency Hotels Limited
“Where any other information is made available to the Department, you can be updated. The above information is based on record and information presently available on the Plot. Thank you.”
But the lawyer continued, “Approval was sought since 2014 but was ignored, even where there is a memo recommending approval. Wike ignored the memos, changed the land use from park/recreation to multi-purpose and issued fresh RofO to some powerful private persons.”
The dispute reportedly came to a head when Wike, accompanied by about 50 armed police officers and two bulldozers, stormed the estate site in an attempt to reclaim and demolish the structures already built by the military allottees.
“Capt. Adam Yariman is the officer Wike is insulting in that video,” the lawyer told SaharaReporters.
“I was with him when we received information that Wike had gone to the site with 50 personnel of the Nigerian Police Force and two bulldozers to demolish and dispossess the owners.”
He added that the Nigerian Army had challenged Wike to go to court, but the minister had allegedly refused.
“The Army has challenged Wike to go to court but he has refused to do so, apparently because he knows he’s wrong,” he said.
The lawyer accused Wike of telling aggrieved landowners to “go to court” whenever confronted, despite ignoring existing court processes and administrative reviews.
The confrontation between the minister and the military officers was captured in a viral video obtained by SaharaReporters, showing Wike in a heated argument with an army officer who refused to yield ground.
The confrontation:
When Wike arrived at the site, a military truck blocked access for his convoy and for the FCTA bulldozers that had been dispatched for the enforcement operation. The soldiers present, reportedly under the leadership of a naval officer, refused to allow entry. During a heated exchange, Wike demanded to know who had authorised the blockade; the officer claimed he was acting “on orders from above.”
In the resultant interaction, Wike told the officer, “Are you a big fool?” — to which the officer retorted, “I am not a fool, sir, and you have no right to call me one.”
That moment has become emblematic of the broader dispute: about authority, legality and the rule of law. The minister subsequently left the site after consulting on the phone, but made clear he would pursue the matter.
The claims and counter-claims
From Wike’s side:
• He insisted the land had no valid title or planning approval, and yet development was proceeding.
• He decried the use of armed personnel to block lawful government enforcement, warning that such intimidation would not be tolerated.
• He disclosed that he had already made contact with the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (through the Chief of Defence Staff) and the Nigerian Navy (through the Chief of Naval Staff) to ensure resolution of the matter.
From the opposing side:
• The land is linked to Awwal Zubairu Gambo (retd), former Chief of Naval Staff, who is said to have acquired the plot in 2020 and begun work in September of that year.
It reads: “Good afternoon, sir. The incident occurred at Gaduwa before Games Village at about 1255. The land was acquired by VADM AZ GAMBO in 2020 with all the legal documents. In September 25, the Admiral decided to develop his land, and after about a week, the Development Control Council came around and asked for the documents and building approval, which the engineer showed them. After two days, they came back and stated that the land had been revoked by the current FCT Minister with no conditions provided.
“Efforts have been made to reach out to him to ask why, but there are no concrete or genuine reasons. They came to stop the work, which prompted us to pursue them. The Minister came around on Saturday and issued enough threats stating that they were coming to bring the building down. Earlier today, around 11 AM, two bulldozers from Development Control came to bring the building down, but we refused them. They called him, and then he sent the FCT Commissioner of Police.
“Despite all efforts being abortive, he came down himself, and that’s when we blocked him from the entrance and did not grant him access to the facility.He had to call the Chief of Defence Staff and report the matter The CDS spoke with the officer that they should come down they are on top of the situation, sir.”
• (This comes from a circulating eyewitness / social-media account and not yet fully verified)
• The defenders on site claim they have all necessary documents, though the FCTA contends none were produced when requested.
• Further complicating matters, another legal perspective claims the plot was originally part of a green area or park-zone (Plot 1946, 31 hectares) within the Parkway system, and was allegedly changed in land-use designation, then reallocated to private interests after revocation. According to a lawyer involved in the case, the land was originally “park and recreation” but was subsequently transformed to “multi-purpose”. He alleges up to 30 hectares were revoked and re-issued to powerful interests, including being linked to current top officials. (This claim comes from an interview with SaharaReporters.)
This incident sits within a broader push by the FCTA under Wike’s leadership to clamp down on illegal land development, land-hoarding and unapproved construction within the territory. For example, earlier in the year Wike warned institutions holding vast tracts of idle land that they risked reclaiming by the government if they failed to develop them.
Legal backing also exists: land in the FCT is vested in the Federal Government via the Minister of FCT, and the Minister has statutory power to allocate, revoke or re‐assign land within the FCT. Federal High Court.
Issues at play
• Legality of the development: If indeed no valid Right of Occupancy (RofO) or development approval exists, then the today’s enforcement is consistent with the rule of law.
• Use of military force in civilian land disputes: The presence of soldiers and a blockade of government officials raises serious questions about the militarisation of what should be civilian administrative action.
• Equity and fairness: Wike pointedly asked: “What about those who don’t have the military or security forces to protect them?” He raised the concern that large or powerful individuals might flout rules while ordinary citizens cannot.
• Precedent and deterrence: Wike’s declaration that “no one, not even a former Chief of Naval Staff, is above the law” is meant to signal a no-excuses enforcement posture.
The unfolding drama throws up a lot of scenarios. The FCTA has indicated that it will investigate the allocation history of Plot 1946, including whether any valid documents exist, and whether the land-use change (if any) was properly handled.
Also, the military leadership (Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Naval Staff) have been notified and are said to have pledged cooperation.
In addition, the affected parties (those controlling the site) may seek to demonstrate their documentation in court, or challenge the FCTA’s action.
Observers say the broader question of how land is allocated, revoked or redeployed in the FCT remains under scrutiny; this case may serve as a flash-point or precedent.
