The Women’s Inclusion, Empowerment, and Leadership Development Initiative (WIELD-I) has appealed to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to intervene in a land dispute affecting a proposed women-focused skill acquisition centre in Jabi, Abuja.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, WIELD-I convener, comrade Amarachi Okeke, raised the alarm over what the group described as the “contemptuous reallocation” of Park No. 87, Sector B, Cadastral Zone B16.
She stressed that the land, allocated initially to AGM Giwabul Ventures, was partially designated for the Nigeria Professional Working Women to establish a centre aimed at empowering unskilled and unemployed women across the FCT.
“The centre was designed to provide vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and economic empowerment for women,” she said, emphasizing that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for women’s inclusion and economic development.
WIELD-I expressed concern that despite an ongoing legal case (Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/524/2023) before the FCT High Court concerning the land, the same plot was reallocated twice in 2025—first in February to Aura Core Investment Ltd (File No. MISC 152831), and again in April to Home and Health Ltd (File No. MISC 155056).
The group described these reallocations as “legally and procedurally questionable.”
“This is not just about land,” Okeke stated. “It’s about access to opportunity, justice, and the dignity of Nigerian women. The ongoing legal process should be respected, and all activities on the land should be suspended until the court gives a final ruling.”
The group also flagged environmental concerns, noting that the land lies along a known waterway, which could pose serious flood risks if not properly managed.
WIELD-I urged regulatory agencies to conduct a thorough environmental review before permitting any further development.
The organisation called on the FCT Minister to: “Immediately halt all development activities on the disputed land; Launch an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reallocation; and, Uphold due process and protect the public interest in land management.”
WIELD-I further appealed to the FCT Police command to refrain from enforcing any property rights on the site while the court case remains unresolved.
In a broader plea, the group urged First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu to lend her support to the initiative, given her long-standing commitment to women’s empowerment under the Renewed Hope Initiative.
“Her Excellency has been a consistent advocate for women. We believe that this matter, once brought to her attention, will receive the serious consideration it deserves,” she said.
The group also commended the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) for ordering the conclusion of investigations into the matter and called for disciplinary action against any official found culpable in the irregular reallocation process.
WIELD-I concluded by reaffirming its commitment to constructive dialogue, adherence to the rule of law, and the promotion of women’s development initiatives as part of Nigeria’s broader national development goals.
“This centre represents hope and self-reliance for many women. We cannot afford to lose that vision to bureaucratic irregularities,” she added.
