Wike Clarifies Role In Reduction Of Yakubu Gowon Varsity Landmass

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified that he was not responsible for revoking part of the land belonging to the Yakubu Gowon University (formerly known as University of Abuja).

Wike made this clarification while delivering a lecture as the guest of honour and guest speaker at the institution’s 2026 Annual Distinguished Personality Lecture Series on its main campus on Tuesday.

He revealed that the decision to reduce the size of the expansive land had been made before he assumed office in 2023.

“I was not the one who revoked the university land. I came in and met the revocation on the table. I only implemented what I saw. The decision was made, but there was no courage to implement it, so I only implemented it,” he explained.

The minister argued that even Harvard University, which was established in the 17th century, does not have as much land as the Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja. Harvard University has a total landmass of about 238.5 hectares.

It can be recalled that a committee was set up during the immediate-past FCT Administration to work out modalities for the reduction of the university’s landmass before its renaming after Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd).

It will also be recalled that the reduction of the land size was a precondition for the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, which the then vice-chancellor, Prof Michael Adikwu, had requested to enable the university to enter into development partnerships.

Consequently, the land was reduced to 4,000 hectares from 11,824 hectares—a size that had initially placed it as the third-largest university in Nigeria, after the University of Ilorin (15,000 hectares) and Obafemi Awolowo University (13,000 hectares).

Speaking on the theme, “Exemplary Leadership and Infrastructural Development in Nigeria: Between Dividends of Democracy and Good Governance,” Wike stated that good leaders must have the courage to take bold decisions that may be painful in the short term but beneficial in the long run.

The minister, who was visibly pleased with an earlier disclosure from the vice-chancellor of the university, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, that the institution had entered into partnerships with local and foreign developers, requested a list of the university’s needs.