The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed threats by the Academic Staff Union of Universities over the reallocation of portions of the University of Abuja’s land. The minister maintained that the union lacks the legal standing to control land administration in the federal capital.
Speaking during a media chat in Port Harcourt and a town hall meeting in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Wike stated that the FCT Administration holds the statutory power to enforce the Abuja master plan. He argued that public institutions should not hold large, undeveloped land indefinitely, according to Punch.
The controversy centres on 11,824 hectares assigned to the university in the Giri District. Dr Sylvanus Ugoh, the chairman of the UniAbuja ASUU chapter, had earlier warned that the union could no longer ensure industrial peace if the government did not reverse allocations given to private developers and state agencies. The union stated the land was reserved for long-term expansion, agricultural research, and infrastructure.
In response, Wike questioned ASUU's involvement in property management, asking what business the lecturers had in deciding land matters. He noted that the FCTA would not reverse the reallocations and welcomed the union to pursue legal redress rather than resorting to strike actions and blackmail.
Beyond the land dispute, the former Rivers State governor rallied support for President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid. Wike expressed total confidence that Tinubu would win Rivers State, noting that political structures across the state are already aligned with the presidency.
During the Abonnema gathering, the minister also urged local residents to support the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, and other legislative candidates. He advised voters against supporting a local indigene running under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, stating that the party lacked the capacity to secure victory.
On regional politics, Wike chose not to speak about the opposition to the Rainbow Coalition in Imo and other states. He noted that discussions concerning his disagreements with Governor Hope Uzodimma would only take place after the presidential election.
