Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has clarified his decision to revoke land initially allocated to the construction giant Julius Berger in the Katampe District of Abuja. The plot, which had remained undeveloped for nearly two decades, will now be used to build residences for judges.
Truth Live News gathered that the announcement was made during the Flag-Off Ceremony for the construction of 40 Judges’ Quarters in Abuja on Monday.
In the presence of dignitaries including the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Wike shared insights into the rationale behind the decision.
Wike, who personally inspected the site, noted that despite being allocated to Julius Berger over 15 years ago, no development had taken place. The Minister, upon inquiry from the Director of Lands, confirmed the land’s ownership and decided that such prime real estate could not continue to lie fallow.
“I called the Director of Lands to inquire about the ownership of the land, and he confirmed it had been allocated to Julius Berger for nearly two decades without any development,” Wike disclosed.
Highlighting his proactive stance, Wike revealed that although he recently had dinner with the Managing Director of Julius Berger, he refrained from discussing the issue at that time. Instead, he chose to act decisively, sending a revocation letter the following day.
“When the MD called me, surprised about the revocation after our dinner, I simply responded that we didn’t discuss the land,” Wike recounted. The Minister’s actions underline a firm commitment to public interest, ensuring that the land is repur