Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has defended his administration's decision to revoke land allocations in Abuja, stating the reclaimed plots are being used for the construction of judges' quarters. Speaking during the commissioning of the Court of Appeal Judges Quarters and the launch of new housing projects for Industrial Court and Code of Conduct Tribunal judges, Wike said some of the land had been allocated to Julius Berger 15 years earlier but remained undeveloped. He confirmed he personally revoked the allocation and repurposed the site for judicial housing, adding that other nearby plots were also taken over to ensure the safety and security of judges.
Wike dismissed criticism of the land seizures, saying those who object should not expect him to be affected by public opinion. "I thank God that today they can see that I truly grabbed lands," he said. He added that he sleeps well despite backlash, urging critics to focus on their own duties. He recounted how private developers had begun constructing on land designated for the Industrial Court project, but he ordered the takeover of those areas as well. The minister stated that property owners would be compensated, explaining the move was necessary to prevent potential threats, including kidnapping, from individuals who might reside close to judges.
He emphasized that the FCT Administration under his leadership is prioritizing the welfare and protection of judicial officers, noting that the new quarters are part of broader efforts to improve infrastructure for key institutions. All reclaimed land, he said, would be formally acquired and transferred to the judiciary.
Nyesom Wike boasts about revoking land allocations while claiming to protect judges, yet frames the same actions as political attacks against himself. The plots he took from Julius Berger and private developers were unused, but his justification mixes public interest with personal defiance. If security is the real concern, then why highlight the revocations as proof of strength rather than administrative follow-through? His focus on abuse and whisky undermines the seriousness of land use decisions affecting multiple stakeholders.
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