The Department of Development Control, under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Tuesday reclaimed more than 100 hectares of land in Gosa District from trespassers through a demolition operation, adding that Eight individuals were arrested in Abuja for engaging in land grabbing and will face prosecution.
The Department Director, Mukhtar Galadima, who disclosed this indicated that the operation was conducted in partnership with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and additional organizations to catch those responsible for engaging in unlawful land grabbing.
He emphasized the importance of reducing incidents of land grabbing in order to protect unsuspecting Nigerians from buying properties obtained through fraudulent methods.
Galadima repeated FCTA’s dedication to addressing such occurrences, mentioning that similar steps were taken around the Idu train station last year.
He also promised to remove any illegal barriers to prevent further unauthorized occupation. The land that was designated for housing developments for a corporate entity was illegally enclosed by trespassers.
He advised people looking to buy land to ensure they conduct thorough research by confirming land allocations with the appropriate government departments such as the Department of Lands Administration, Development Control, and Urban and Regional Planning.
Dr. Peter Olumuji, who serves as the Secretary of Command and Control at FCTA, criticized land grabbers for engaging in unlawful actions such as forging documents and clashing with officials.
He confirmed that the eight individuals taken into custody during the operation would be held accountable under the law.
Hamza Adamu, the CEO of Ivory Shelters Nigerian Limited, has verified that the land has been lawfully allocated for a mixed-use development that will include both commercial and residential functions. He has guaranteed that infrastructure and security enhancements are in progress, focusing on making the project affordable and ensuring client safety.
