By Ken Afor
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has revoked 167 plots of land in posh areas in the nation’s capital belonging to some political elites in the country.
Those affected are Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Liyel Imoke, former governor of Cross River State, Udoma Udo Udoma, former minister of budget and national planning among others.
The revocation comes after the expiration of the two weeks notice issued to owners.
In a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Administration (FCTA), Mr Olusade Adesola, on Thursday, the lands were revoked in contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy to wit non-development.
According to Adesola, “The revocation of the affected plots was approved by the minister following the violation of the terms of Rights of Occupancy.
“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him under Section 28(5)(a) & (b) of the Land Use Act 1978, revoked the affected titles for continued contravention of the terms of development of the Right of Occupancy to wit non-development.”
Areas affected where the highest plots of land, 41, were revoked include Maitama, Gudu, Wuye which had the highest revocation.
Also, Katampe, Katampe Extension, Wuse 2, Jabi, Utako, Idu Industrial zone, and Asokoro which had the second highest revocation, 39.
Some of the plots revoked in Maitama District A05 had names like Liyel Imoke, Musa Aboki Egu, Hassan Hadejia and Ishaya Baba.
In Jabi, some of the plots revoked had allottees such as Sam Nda-Isaiah, Donubari Josephine Kogbara, while Katampe district had Peter Gregory Obi, BUA international among others.
In other areas, plots revoked had names as Julius Berger Nigeria, Honeywell Construction, Uffot Joseph Ekaette, Shittu Mohammed, Udoma Udo Udoma, Kanu Agabi, Niki Niki Tobi, Ishaku Bello, and others.
It would be recalled that Wike on assumption of office on Monday, August 21, 2023 vowed to restore the Abuja master plan, revoke lands acquired for years without development and bring down illegal structures distorting the master plan.
According to the former Rivers State governor, “People who are distorting the master plan of Abuja, your houses will go down.
“People who have built on green areas, your houses will go down.”