Wike arrests developer over construction on embassies’ lands, orders buildings’ demolition

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the arrest and demolition of buildings illegally constructed on plots of land allocated to foreign missions in the diplomatic zone of Katampe Extension, Abuja.

The affected land, located within the Diplomatic Zone, Katampe Extension in FCT, was originally allocated on March 18, 2008, to 10 embassies for diplomatic residential purposes, while a portion was also reserved for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria for a 132/133KV power station.

Speaking to journalists during an inspection tour of projects in Abuja on Friday, March 13, 2026, Wike said the FCT Administration discovered that an individual had illegally taken over the land and erected buildings without approval from the Federal Capital Development Authority.

Wike said the Department of Development Control had been directed to remove all illegal structures.

“This land was allocated to various embassies. Somebody just came here, took the land and started developing it on his own without approval from the FCDA. We cannot allow this kind of land invasion to continue,” he said.

Wike disclosed that the affected plots were allocated to diplomatic missions, including those of Thailand, Bulgaria, Syria, Somalia, Serbia and Montenegro, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Senegal, and the Palestine Liberation Organization.

He said the FCT Administration had begun notifying the missions to take possession of their allocated land.

Wike also confirmed that the suspected developer, Kabiru Sahara, had been arrested and would be prosecuted after ongoing investigations by the police.

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“The man has been arrested and he will be charged to court. The police are carrying out their investigations and he will be charged to court any moment from now,” Wike stated.

The projects inspected by Wike included the redesigned Abuja City Gate, road from Bill Clinton Drive of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the Tunga Madaki community, which will now be extended to Zuba, the road linking Baze University, Body of Benchers, Nile University, and the Wupa Light Rail Station in Idu Area of Abuja, as well as the Office Annex for the Body of Benchers.

The minister said many of the projects, being handled by firms such as Julius Berger Nigeria, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, and Levant Construction, would be completed in time for inauguration during the third anniversary of President Bola Tinubu in office.

Wike added that the infrastructure drive was part of efforts to open up new communities and improve connectivity across the capital, noting that residents in areas such as Tungan-Madaki had welcomed the projects as they would link them more directly to the city.

The Star