The Minister of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike issued plot allocation papers to Radcom Nigeria Limited in the Lugbe area of Abuja after the commencement of demolition there.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration began demolishing duplexes and bungalows in Sabon Lugbe in October 2024. The FCTA’s Department of Development Control Director, Mukhtar Galadima, led the demolition, which began with 10 buildings and eventually involved close to 50 structures.
Residents and estate developers have criticized the demolition, claiming that it was carried out without prior notice and that it left hundreds of people homeless. They also allege that the demolition was a show of intimidation and oppression, and that Wike has reallocated land to allies and cronies.
Wike, on October 22, ordered the immediate demolition of what he described as illegal structures at the Sabon Lugbe South District Layout in the FCT.
He said buildings without proper documentation from the FCT Administration would be demolished, describing the developers as land grabbers.
He stated that the structures were built without the approval of the Development Control Department, in violation of the FCT’s land use provisions.
SaharaReporters reported on October 24 that the victims of the demolition accused the former Rivers State governor of demolishing their houses in the area without a prior notice.
One of the affected residents in a video seen by SaharaReporters had lamented the injustice done to them by the minister, accusing him of being interested in acquiring the area.
“We saw the development control, they came here and the next thing, they started removing houses. There was no prior notice, they didn’t tell us anything, all we heard was that the minister was interested in the place and that they said they should remove anything that is existing there,” the affected resident said.
“We have a layout which the director of development control signed his approval on. I don’t know why they are doing that. They did it in centenary city and for 14 years, we have been going for relocation but up till now, we have not gotten it. But if they are interested in a layout, they do it within one month.”
However, documents obtained by SaharaReporters showed that the minister through the Director, Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, has issued allocation papers to Radcom Nigeria Limited following the demolition exercise.
One of the documents obtained by SaharaReporters shows that Radcom Nigeria Limited, registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission on September 7, 1995 with Registration Number RC 278659, was issued an approval of grant over Plot Number 1658 in Cadastral Zone E09 of Lugbe South.
The land allocated measures approximately 1136808.12m².
Similarly, the same company was allocated Plot 1659 in the Cadastral Zone E09 measuring approximately 1185248.85m². Both allocations were made on October 30, 2024.
One of the documents with serial number 0000216, dated October 31, 2024 is titled: “Letter of Intent: Participation in mass-housing development programme within the Federal Capital Territory”.
The document partly reads: “Name: RADCOM NIGERIA LIMITED. Address: 32 YAKUBU GOWON CRESCENT, ASOKORO, ABUJA, FCT, NIGERIA. File Number: MISC 155632. Purpose: MIXED USE (MASS HOUSING). Date of Offer: 10/30/2024.
“I am to refer to your request for participation in the Mass-Housing Development Programme of the Federal Capital Territory and convey the approval of grant over Plot Number 1658 in Cadastral Zone E09 of LUGBE SOUTH measuring approximately 1136808.12m².”
The condition is that “you accept this offer in writing within two (2) weeks from the date of this letter by signing and returning a Development Lease Agreement containing the Terms and Conditions of the Offer to this office for perfection.”
Meanwhile, findings by SaharaReporters show that Radcom Nigeria Limited, which was incorporated in Kaduna, Nigeria with Registration Number 278659, has Azem S. Alexander, Azem S. Alezaner, Azem H. El-deen and Firetti Guido as Directors and key management officers.
The FCT Minister, Wike, ordered the military to take over Sabon Lugbe, after allegations that property owners were stopping a demolition exercise by the Federal Capital Territory.
There have been a series of demolitions under the Wike-led administration in The Federal Capital Territory, with pleas in some quarters for an end to the activities.