Amanze ChinonyePro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Abuja, Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso, has accused Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of reclaiming over 11,000 hectares of land previously allocated to the university, leaving behind mostly mountainous and unusable terrain.
Speaking at a public event in Abuja, Tejuoso lamented that the institution, originally allocated 11,800 hectares, is now left with just 4,000 hectares, of which 2,000 hectares are rocky hills.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“Currently, the University of Abuja has only 2,000 hectares. The other 2,000 is a mountain. Maybe Minister Wike should take over the mountain instead and develop it,” Tejuoso said.
His remarks come amid ongoing controversy over Wike’s recent land recovery drive, which he claims is targeted at reclaiming illegally acquired public land within the FCT. The minister announced that his administration had recovered 7,000 hectares of land allegedly “grabbed” by the University of Abuja without proper documentation.
Wike accused the university of erecting perimeter fences across vast portions of land in the Giri District without legal proof of ownership. He said the land was at risk of being sold off under the guise of institutional development.
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“These people have no documents. They just enter the land and fence it off. Before you know it, they’ll start selling it in the name of the university,” Wike stated.
As a result, the FCT Administration has reduced the university’s landholding to 4,000 hectares, a figure that university officials argue is grossly insufficient for future expansion and infrastructure needs.
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Reacting to the land cut, the University of Abuja maintains that the land was duly allocated in the early 1990s and that the institution holds valid documents proving ownership. The University spokesperson, Dr. Habib Yakoob, said the land is already under phased development through TETFund and private partnerships, including collaborative projects with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).
Critics of Wike’s decision have raised concerns about the legal and procedural basis for the reclamation, while others have supported the move, citing under-utilisation of public land and Abuja’s urgent infrastructure needs. Some development analysts argue that the university has used less than 10% of its allocated land in nearly four decades, calling the rest “idle.”
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However, Senator Tejuoso insists the issue is not merely about land size, but the quality and usability of what remains. He expressed frustration that the university’s future is now constrained by limited land availability, especially when half of it lies atop a mountain.
The land dispute adds to the broader national conversation on the allocation and development of public property in Abuja, where competing interests between academic institutions, government agencies, and real estate developers continue to generate tension.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
