Wike Grants Free Land Titles to FCT Traditional Rulers, Waives All Fees on Tinubu’s Directive

By Ibrahim Kegbegbe

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the allocation of land titles to traditional rulers in the FCT, alongside a full waiver of all statutory fees, in a move aimed at strengthening ties between the government and indigenous institutions.

Speaking during a meeting with the FCT Council of Traditional Rulers in Abuja on Friday, Wike said the decision followed the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and reflects the administration’s recognition of the historical rights of the original inhabitants of the territory.

The minister acknowledged that indigenous communities existed long before the creation of the FCT and stressed the need for fairness and inclusion in government policies.
“We cannot deny the fact that there are indigenous people who lived here before the creation of the FCT,” Wike said, adding that it would be unjust to make traditional rulers pay huge sums for land their ancestors had occupied for generations.

He also commended the royal fathers for their role in ensuring peaceful conduct of the recent Area Council elections, describing the exercise as one of the most peaceful in the territory’s history. As part of efforts to support their peacebuilding role, the minister pledged to provide utility vehicles to traditional rulers across the FCT.

The Merit Newspaper reports that Wike further highlighted ongoing infrastructure development in satellite towns, including the dualisation of the Airport–Kuje road, the Bwari–Zuba link road, road projects in Apo/Karshi and Bassan Jiwa, as well as the completion of the Gbazango road network.

Responding on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Ona of Abaji and Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, expressed appreciation for the gesture and reaffirmed the support of traditional institutions for the policies and programmes of the FCT Administration.