Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended ongoing enforcement actions at Jabi Lake, a popular recreational site in Abuja. He ordered a crackdown on what he described as substandard and unauthorized developments around the area.
Wike made the comments while responding to an appeal by Rev Serah Omaku, Senior Pastor of Family Worship Centre, Abuja.
Daily Trust had earlier reported that the pastor knelt on the pulpit, pleading with the minister not to revoke or take over the land. A video of the emotional appeal later circulated widely on social media.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike dismissed the concerns raised by the pastor. He maintained that the government’s actions were strictly based on law and not emotion.
“You talk about the woman kneeling down and begging. I’m not carried away by such emotions. Begging to do what? Who owns Jabi Lake? How does it become your own? First of all, I came on board; that place was given to a company that said they wanted to turn it into an entertainment place, but they have turned it into shanties.”
He further said he personally visited the site and was dissatisfied with its condition.
“One of these days I went there and said, ‘This can’t be; there is a hotel, and who would come to stay in that hotel when there are shanties all over?’ You don’t know if there are criminals.”
Wike explained that the original allocation had been revoked and would now be reassigned to investors capable of proper development. He added that strict timelines and conditions would guide any new allocations.
“You cannot allocate land and leave it for that long with nothing to show. We revoked it. Now we want to give it to people who are ready to develop it,” Wike said.
“We will reallocate the land with clear conditions. If there is no development within the specified time, we will take it back.
“To the woman who was crying, if she likes, let her call God to come down. What is my business? How does Jabi become hers? Is it an individual or government property? We are trying to make sure investors develop this land for the interest of all of us.”
He noted that several plots around the lake, originally meant for high end projects, had remained undeveloped for over ten years and had deteriorated into informal settlements.
Wike confirmed that the FCT Administration has begun revoking such dormant allocations as part of a broader effort to curb land speculation in Abuja.
“You must sign to develop within a given period. If you fail, the land returns to government. It is as simple as that,” he added.
He also clarified that the government is not restricting public access to Jabi Lake, but is targeting misuse and abandonment of allocated land.
“We are not taking anything from the public. We are reclaiming land from those who failed to do what they were supposed to do or who converted it to unauthorised uses,” he said.
Wike further criticised the conversion of approved land uses, saying recreational areas had been altered without proper authorization.
