Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned developers at the River Park Estate along the Airport Road in the FCT that the administration would not succumb to blackmail and would demolish all ongoing illegal constructions on the disputed land.
The minister spoke yesterday during an unscheduled inspection visit to the estate, prompted by petitions and growing tensions over the property’s ownership.
Addressing journalists on the site, Wike clarified the complex legal standing of the estate.
He revealed that the original lease agreement between the FCT and a Ghanaian company, Jonah Capital Nigeria Ltd, had expired by a fraction of time after a prolonged disagreement.
The minister was particularly scathing about a third-party developer, Paulo Homes, which he stated had no legitimate business with the FCT.
“Let it be on record. They have no business with the FCT. Only the other companies have a lease agreement. Unfortunately, that lease agreement had expired by a friction of time.
“Apart from that, entering into an agreement with a third party is a contravention of one of the clauses of the lease agreement,” he said.
Wike accused Paulo Homes of attempting to force the government’s hand by commencing rapid construction.
“What one of them did, Paulo Homes did, was overnight, because he started to do construction, in order to tie the hands of the administration, which of course, you know, will not succumb to such,” he said.
The minister stated he had ordered the Department of Development Control to take immediate and decisive action.
However, seeking to allay the fears of innocent residents who may have purchased properties in good faith, Wike announced an intervention plan.
He stated that the FCT Administration would issue new Certificates of Occupancy directly to them to legitimise their ownership.
To ensure transparency, the minister said a meeting with all residents had been scheduled for next week.
“We are going to invite residents who own property here for a meeting so that we tell them what we intend to do. So there is no cause for alarm.
“People are going to use the government to make money. We are not saying that people should not make money, but do things in a way they supposed to be done,” he said.
