The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike, has denied the Nigerian Customs Service’s request for reconsideration over the revocation of its land by the FCT Administration.
Wike stated that the agency could only retrieve the revoked land by purchasing it at its current market value.
The minister made this announcement in Abuja when hosting customs officers, led by the acting Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi. Adeniyi had requested land to construct primary and secondary schools for the children of the more than 2,000 customs officers residing in the FCT.
In response to this request, Minister Wike expressed disappointment with the customs service’s previous use of the land and its refusal to develop it. He informed them that the FCT would now sell the land to them, and upon obtaining a Certificate of Ownership, they would need to pay ground rent for it.
While the minister assured the customs service of his support, he highlighted the importance of government agencies developing allocated lands in the FCT. Additionally, he set conditions for granting the land for school development, emphasizing that the customs service must pledge to develop the land within a specific period, pay ground rent as required, and show a commitment to building schools for the children of their staff and the FCT community.
He stated that if the agency did not comply with these conditions, the land would be revoked. However, Wike indicated that he would approve the land for the school project once the customs service submitted the necessary application.
Adeniyi acknowledged Wike’s achievements as FCT Minister and emphasized the customs service’s role as a critical stakeholder in the FCT, with over 2,000 officers residing in the area. He explained that not all the officers’ children could access public schools, thus underscoring the need to provide quality education for them.
