ABUJA, FCT — In a move to protect the integrity of the nation's capital master plan, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate demolition of all illegally constructed buildings in the Katampe Extension diplomatic zone. The directive, issued on Friday, March 13, 2026, follows the discovery of massive "land grabbing" activities on plots specifically reserved for foreign embassies and essential utility infrastructure.
Encroachment on Foreign Mission Lands The affected land, located in a high-brow area of Abuja, was originally allocated on March 18, 2008, to ten foreign diplomatic missions for residential purposes. These missions include those of Thailand, Bulgaria, Syria, Somalia, Serbia and Montenegro, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Senegal, and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). Additionally, a portion of the site was reserved for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) for the construction of a 132/133 KV power station.
Wike, visibly angered during an inspection tour of infrastructure projects, revealed that an individual developer had unlawfully taken over the land and commenced construction without any approval from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). "This land was allocated to various embassies. Somebody just came here, took the land, and started developing it on his own without approval. We cannot allow this kind of land invasion to continue," the Minister stated.
Arrest and Prosecution Beyond the demolition order, Wike directed security agencies to arrest the developer, identified as Alhaji Kabiru Sahara. The Minister confirmed that the suspect is currently in police custody and will face prosecution once investigations are concluded. He emphasized that the FCT Administration (FCTA) would not fold its arms and allow unauthorized developments to jeopardize Nigeria's diplomatic relationships.
The Department of Development Control has been instructed to move in with heavy machinery to bring down all standing structures on the encroached plots. The FCTA has also begun the process of formally notifying the affected foreign missions to come and take full possession of their designated lands to prevent future re-encroachment.
Broader Infrastructure Drive The demolition order comes as part of a wider effort by the Wike-led administration to modernize Abuja's infrastructure. During the same tour, the Minister inspected several ongoing road projects, including the redesigned Abuja City Gate and the road linking Bill Clinton Drive to the Tunga-Madaki community. Wike expressed confidence that many of these projects, being handled by major firms like Julius Berger and CCECC, would be ready for inauguration by May 2026, marking the third anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
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