By TPL Umar Shuaibu
Last week, almost all media reports on the altercation between the FCT Minister and a detachment of military officers were narrated with sensation rather than objectivity, failing to address the wider implications of the episode. The Minister was on an enforcement mission to stop and demolish an ongoing development that lacked valid allocation and development permits.
While the Minister’s mission was legitimate, it was abnormal for a whole Minister to become directly involved in a task that falls under the responsibility of a statutory department. Even if the officers responsible for the assignment encountered resistance from the military, the manner in which the Minister engaged is uncalled for unless there are other underlying ulterior motives.
On the other hand, it is unfortunate for the military, much like the police force in Nigeria, to be seen defending a development in the Federal Capital City that lacks valid ownership documents. The developers, specifically the military, should pursue legal avenues to recover their rights from those who dishonestly sold the land to them, potentially with the assistance of the FCTA, rather than resorting to confrontations.
Beyond these facts and the public statement by the former Director of Development Control that the land being developed lacks valid documents, many questions remain for the Authority. If individuals are illegally claiming ownership, what underlying information legitimizes their allegations? Were they stopped because the land is designated as a green area, a road reservation, or belongs to other parties with prior allocations? Moreover, how does the Authority manage similar developments with such abuses and conflicts?
The current FCT Administration, led by Wike, has repeatedly shot itself in the foot with its own violations. Numerous plots of land in the city are subject to land use abuses, yet allocations and building permits have been granted for contrary uses.
Those familiar with the rules and regulations are aware that the instruments employed for Development Control operations in the city prohibit granting development permits for green areas and road corridor reservations. A typical example is the ongoing project at the Wuse Zone 6 Neighborhood Park, located just a stone’s throw from the AMMC headquarters.
The reality is that even if the disputed land is permitted for development by a military officer or any other individual, such approval would only be temporary, pending the construction of the Southern Parkway. Meanwhile, the FCT Minister has revoked all green area allocations in the city. Owners were directed to reapply for their parks to be revalidated, subject to the Minister’s discretion.
The Minister possesses the authority to revoke and reallocate lands, but this must align with overriding public interest. Moreover, all parks are allocated for public benefit. There is no valid ground to support these allocations and approvals.
If the Administration cannot lead by setting a good example, how can it expect other citizens to respect its orders? The entire episode can be summed up in the popular saying, “He who comes for equity must come with clean hands.”
We can attest to the loyalty of the security agencies to the FCT Administration, specifically to the office of the FCT Minister as the Chief Security Officer of the Territory. The general public, especially the security agencies, are not blind to the violations of FCT land laws by those who should be custodians. Last week, the respect and obedience to constituted authority were eroded to their lowest ebb, with most media supporting the military action not out of ignorance but due to the diminished public confidence in the current FCT Administration.
We cannot forget that in the past, a building owned by a sitting Minister of Defense was demolished by the FCT Administration, and nothing prevented enforcement in that case. Unfortunately, the sanctity of the city is currently being sacrificed for political expediency, jeopardizing not only the well-being of the Capital City but potentially endangering the stability of Nigerian democracy as a whole.
Inevitably, those who have fallen victim to improper land acquisition and suffered losses will wonder, “Why me alone?” when others are seemingly protected from similar enforcement actions. Why should some be shielded while others face consequences?
If there is no perception of selective justice, the military and other sensible parties would surrender without conflict. All violations by the Administration need to be reversed; otherwise, there will be further breakdowns of law and order, and Wike will continue to struggle to enforce orders that he himself is violating. A stitch in time saves nine.
