Wike Approves N5 Million Penalty for Land Use Violations in FCT

By Toffa Momoh, Abuja

Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister, Nyesom Wike, has approved the payment of five million Naira as a penalty for land-use violations in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

The Minister disclosed this in his office while receiving the reports of the two ad-hoc Ministerial committees inaugurated to review the controversies surrounding River Park Estate and the other to review the Land uses/purpose clauses of land and properties at locations overtaken by commercial and other activities.

The Minister who approved the recommendations of both committees lamented the rampant land use violations in the FCT and vowed to enforce the penalties to restore law and order. He warned that failure to pay the stipulated penalties will lead to the revocation of titles.

According to him, “I’m aware that certain areas are designated for residential purposes, certain areas are designated for commercial purposes, but people believe that they can do anything without appropriate involvement. So, they change residential to commercial and commercial to residential and to all kinds of mixed uses, and if you don’t sanction them, it will continue to be so.

“We must let you know that we have to apply the sanctions as required, and anybody who does not comply, we have no choice but to revoke the title and withdraw it, and then we will be in a position to decide what to do with it. As regards the problems about those applying for leases to build, that’s one area where I’ve seen a lot of malpractice”.

Recall that the FCT Minister had, on Friday, 8 August 2025, inaugurated two significant ad-hoc committees with a two-week timeframe to review the issues and submit recommendations.

The committees—one on the review of controversies surrounding River Park Estate and the other on the review of land-use/purpose clauses of land and properties at locations overtaken by commercial and other activities—were also charged to discharge their duties with utmost professionalism.

The FCT General Counsel, Barr. Salman Dako, while delivering his report to the Minister, gave remedial directives as follows:

• Direct that all undeveloped portions of land within the boundaries of River Park Estate be withdrawn and reverted to the FCT Administration. This measure is necessitated by the expiration and breach of the DLA and the need to reassert administrative control over the affected plots in line with Clause 9.2 of the DLA.
• Direct that holders of previous “customary” titles whose plots fall within the River Park Estate boundaries and who have developed in accordance with applicable planning and development control regulations be permitted to retain their titles. This recommendation aligns with the subsisting court judgment referenced in paragraph 16.3.
• Approve the relocation of other affected holders of valid but undeveloped titles to the designated site at Kpoto District and constitute a Special Committee to oversee the relocation process.
• Direct the establishment of a Transitional Special Management Committee (TSMC) comprising representatives of the FCT Administration, River Park Estate Residents Association (RERA), and key security agencies. The Committee shall be responsible for harmonising the list of legitimate subscribers, coordinating estate security, facilitating title regularisation and issuance, and resolving outstanding grievances of residents.
• Direct the lessee to submit all executed Powers of Attorney and other instruments of transfer granted to other developers and subscribers to the TSMC for review and consideration for possible ratification.
• Direct that in line with Clause 2.4 of the DLA and paragraph vix of the Letter of Intent, the names of subscribers/beneficiaries be forwarded to the TSMC for vetting and consideration for issuance of Rights of Occupancy.
• Direct that all stakeholder departments of the FCT Administration are prohibited from engaging in any form of transaction, correspondence, or application with Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited, Houses for Africa Nigeria Limited, Paulo Homes Limited, Common Consultants Limited, or any entities or individuals claiming or acting on their behalf, in respect of River Park Estate, Plot 4, within Cadastral Zones E25 and E30, Lugbe, Abuja, except under express ministerial mandate.

Tpl. Mukhtar Galadima Usman, while submitting the report of the committee on land uses/purpose clauses of land and properties at locations overtaken by commercial and other activities, also disclosed the locations where the land contraventions took place and recommended as follows:

That a one-way traffic system be implemented on Usuma Street in Maitama to manage current and anticipated traffic due to the road hierarchy (Local Street) and the proposed/new land-use status of the properties.

That the existing electrical substations and waste management systems along the selected streets/locations be upgraded.

That, to stimulate commercial developments at locations planned and designated for commercial activities, holders of undeveloped plots at the Central Business District and the Sector Centres within Phase II should immediately develop their plots. This is with a view to discouraging commercial activities within planned residential locations and slowing down arbitrary land-use conversion along the various streets of the FCC.

That, the allottees/holders of undeveloped land/properties located at the Central Business District and the Sector Centres within Phase II of the FCC be mandated to, within three (3) months, commence development on their plots, failing which the titles in respect of any such undeveloped plots will be revoked/withdrawn.”

Receiving both reports, Wike said all the recommendations of both committees would be fully implemented, insisting that sanctions would be enforced strictly.