GO TELL THE MINISTER: WE WOULDN'T STAND AND WATCH YOU GRAB OUR SCHOOL LAND FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

 I write to vehemently oppose the recent actions and pronouncements of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, His Excellency Nyesom Wike, regarding the reduction of the University of Abuja’s land allocation from 11,000 hectares to 4,000 hectares. This move is not only a direct affront to the University of Abuja Act of 1988 but also a flagrant violation of constitutional provisions safeguarding the rights of public institutions to their lawfully allocated properties. It is an act of administrative overreach that undermines the development of the only federal university in the Federal Capital Territory and prioritizes political posturing over the educational needs of Nigerian students.

The University of Abuja was established under the University of Abuja Act of 1988, which provides the legal framework for its creation, governance, and operational mandates. Section 3 of the Act outlines the objectives of the University, which include providing higher education, promoting research, and contributing to national development. To achieve these objectives, the University was allocated 11,000 hectares of land in the Giri District of the FCT for its permanent site, a decision made to ensure the institution’s capacity to expand its infrastructure, accommodate a growing student population, and fulfill its mandate as a center of academic excellence.

The allocation of this land was not arbitrary; it was a deliberate act by the Federal Government to secure the University’s future growth. The Minister’s unilateral decision to slash this allocation to 4,000 hectares, as reported on June 30, 2025, during the commissioning of access roads in Giri District, lacks any legal basis under the University of Abuja Act. The Act does not grant the FCT Minister the authority to revoke or reallocate land designated for the University without due process, consultation with the University’s governing council, or approval from the Federal Executive Council. Such an action constitutes an administrative overstep and a breach of the University’s statutory rights.

The Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) provides clear protections against arbitrary deprivation of property, which extend to public institutions like the University of Abuja. Section 44(1) of the Constitution states:

> “No moveable property or any interest in an immovable property shall be taken possession of compulsorily and no right over or interest in any such property shall be acquired compulsorily in any part of Nigeria except in the manner and for the purposes prescribed by a law that, among other things—(a) requires the prompt payment of compensation therefor; and (b) gives to any person claiming such compensation a right of access for the determination of his interest in the property and the amount of compensation to a court of law or tribunal or body having jurisdiction in that part of Nigeria.”

The Minister’s action to reallocate 7,000 hectares of the University’s land without evidence of due process, compensation, or legal authorization violates this constitutional provision. The University, as a federal institution, holds a vested interest in the 11,000 hectares allocated to it, and any attempt to divest it of this property must comply with the Constitution. The Minister’s claim that the University “grabbed” this land without documentation is baseless and inflammatory, as the allocation was made pursuant to the University of Abuja Act and subsequent governmental approvals. Furthermore, the Minister’s directive to the Director of Lands to carve out 4,000 hectares and reallocate the rest to other entities suggests a premeditated intent to undermine the University’s development, which is inconsistent with the public interest provisions of Section 44.

Additionally, Section 1(3) of the Constitution establishes the supremacy of the Constitution, stating that any law or action inconsistent with its provisions is null and void to the extent of the inconsistency. The Minister’s arbitrary reduction of the University’s land allocation, without recourse to the legal framework governing land use in the FCT or the University’s enabling Act, is unconstitutional and void ab initio.

The University of Abuja, as the only federal university in the Federal Capital Territory, is a critical institution meant to serve as a beacon of learning and a symbol of educational excellence in the nation’s capital. Yet, it is no secret that the University has been plagued by chronic underdevelopment, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient funding. Students and faculty contend with dilapidated facilities, overcrowded lecture halls, and a lack of modern amenities essential for a 21st-century academic institution. Instead of addressing these pressing needs, the FCT Minister has chosen to target the University’s land, one of its most valuable assets for future growth and development.

The Minister’s assertion that the University has failed to develop the 11,000 hectares and is thus engaging in “land grabbing” is a gross misrepresentation of the situation. The lack of development on the land is not due to negligence or malfeasance by the University but rather a direct consequence of decades of underfunding by successive administrations. The University of Abuja has been allocated meager budgets that barely cover operational costs, let alone capital-intensive projects like infrastructure development. To now penalize the University by seizing its land under the pretext of non-development is akin to punishing a starving person for not cooking a feast.

Rather than encroaching on the University’s land, the Minister should prioritize the provision of basic infrastructure to support its growth. This includes funding for academic buildings, student hostels, libraries, laboratories, and access roads within the University’s permanent site. The construction of roads in the Giri District, which the Minister claims has curbed land grabbing, should be extended to the University’s campus to facilitate its development, not used as a justification to strip it of its assets.

The University of Abuja community—students, faculty, staff, and alumni—must not cower in the face of this unjust action. The Minister’s public pronouncements on national television, accusing the University of land grabbing, are not only defamatory but also an attempt to intimidate the institution into submission. We cannot, as a community, beg for what is rightfully ours. The 11,000 hectares allocated to the University are not a privilege to be negotiated but a right enshrined in law and protected by the Constitution.

The University’s governing council, in collaboration with the acting Vice-Chancellor, must immediately challenge this action through legal and administrative channels. A formal petition should be filed with the Federal Executive Council, the National Assembly, and relevant judicial bodies to seek redress and reaffirm the University’s ownership of the 11,000 hectares. The Minister’s actions set a dangerous precedent for other federal institutions, and if left unchallenged, they could embolden further encroachments on public assets.

The FCT Minister’s focus on reallocating the University’s land to other entities, purportedly for development, raises serious questions about his priorities. The Minister has claimed that the reallocation will facilitate road construction and attract investors to the Giri District. However, this argument fails to justify why the University, a public institution with a clear mandate to educate and develop the nation’s human capital, should be sacrificed for private interests. The Minister’s role is to support federal institutions like the University of Abuja, not to undermine them for the benefit of unnamed “institutions and groups.”

Moreover, allegations of cronyism and selective land allocations under the Minister’s tenure, as reported by Sahara Reporters and other sources, cast a shadow over his motives. While the Minister has denied allocating 2,082 hectares to his son, the broader pattern of revoking and reallocating land titles in Abuja suggests a lack of transparency and accountability in the FCT’s land management processes. The University of Abuja must not become a casualty of such practices.

The University of Abuja’s 11,000 hectares are not just land; they represent the institution’s potential to grow into a world-class university capable of serving Nigeria and beyond. The FCT Minister’s attempt to reduce this allocation to 4,000 hectares is an unlawful and unconstitutional act that violates the University of Abuja Act of 1988 and Section 44 of the Nigerian Constitution. It is a direct attack on the aspirations of thousands of students who rely on the University for their education and future prospects.

As a union, we must resist this agenda with all lawful means available. The Minister must redirect his efforts toward providing the University with the infrastructure it desperately needs, not stripping it of its assets. The University of Abuja is not a land-grabbing entity but a federal institution striving to fulfill its mandate under challenging circumstances. We call on all stakeholders—students, faculty, alumni, lawmakers, and the Nigerian public—to stand with the University in defending its rights and securing its future.