Land Dispute: NASS Restrains Navy From Evicting Abuja Communities

The House of Representatives has ordered the Nigerian Navy to halt all eviction activities targeting several communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), pending the resolution of a petition before the National Assembly.

This was made known in a statement posted on the verified Facebook page of the Public Complaint Commission (PCC) on Wednesday evening.

The restraining directive was issued on November 13, 2025, by the Chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, Hon. Kwamoti Laori Bitrus, during a hearing on a petition filed by the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), FCT Office, against the Navy.

The petition, presented by the Federal Commissioner of the PCC, Hon. Musa Dikko, accused naval officers of criminal trespass, intimidation, unlawful seizure of farmlands, demolition of homes, and extortion in Tunga-Giwa, Tunga-Wakili, Tunga-Madaki, Iddo Sarki, and Nuwalege communities.

“The affected communities predate the creation of the FCT in 1976,” the commissioner of PCC Hon. Dikko said.

According to the PCC, residents were allegedly threatened with eviction and given until December 2025 to vacate the disputed land, actions it said violated due process under the Land Use Act and “principles of natural justice.”

Hon. Dikko noted that the affected communities, many of whom rely on farming, have suffered severe hardship, insecurity, and economic losses as a result of the Navy’s actions.

He acknowledged the statutory powers of the government to acquire land for public purposes but stressed that such powers “must be exercised with corresponding obligations, including compensation, resettlement, and community engagement.”

Common chairman Laori Bitrus lauded the PCC’s intervention, describing the petition as “a critical step toward safeguarding citizens’ rights and upholding the rule of law.”

The Committee subsequently adjourned the matter to December 9, 2025, to allow the Nigerian Navy time to study and respond to the allegations. On that date, the PCC’s Commissioner and management staff appeared before the Committee; however, the hearing was again adjourned to 27 January 2026.

When the matter resumed on January 27, 2026, representatives of the Nigerian Navy were absent but sent a letter requesting another adjournment.

“Decisive action will be taken if the Nigerian Navy fails to appear at the next sitting,” , Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Mathew Nwogu said.

Following the Navy’s absence, the Committee postponed the case to March 4, 2026, for continuation of hearing.