FCTA Apologises To Wike Over Clash With Naval Officer

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has apologised to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike after a viral video showed him in a heated confrontation with armed naval officers at an illegal construction site in Gaduwa.

Senior officials, speaking after the FCT Executive Committee meeting, described the incident as regrettable but insisted the disputed development had no legal backing.

Officials explained that the confrontation stemmed from a routine monitoring exercise on October 17, when development control staff discovered ongoing construction along the Southern Parkway without approved documents. They said naval personnel at the site resisted enquiries and allegedly threatened to shoot, prompting a distress call to the minister.

The director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the claimants relied on a 2007 letter of intent, which he described as insufficient for any form of building activity in Abuja. He stated that no statutory right of occupancy or building approval existed for the land and reaffirmed that the project was illegal under Abuja planning laws.

Galadima said he invited the minister out of concern for staff safety, noting that armed officers at the location posed an immediate risk. He apologised for the public nature of the incident and expressed regret that the minister had to intervene directly.

The director of Lands Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, also clarified that the claimants failed to meet basic requirements for land ownership, including development timelines and compliance with the Abuja master plan. He stressed that a letter of intent cannot serve as proof of land title and cannot justify any construction.

Despite the apology, FCTA officials maintained that the enforcement action was necessary to protect Abuja’s planning standards and uphold the FCT Act. They urged the public to rely on verified land documents and approved plans when seeking to develop property in the capital.