Wike grants land titles, fee waivers to FCT traditional rulers

By Omeiza Ajayi

As part of measures to strengthen the relationship between the government and traditional institutions, Federal Capital Territory FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, has presented land allocation documents to members of the FCT Council of Traditional Rulers.

During a meeting with the council in Abuja on Friday, the minister announced a total waiver on all statutory fees for the land titles, noting that these measures were taken following direct instructions from President Bola Tinubu.

Wike emphasised that the current administration recognises the historical presence of indigenous people, even where legal frameworks may have previously overlooked original ownership.

“We cannot deny the fact that there are indigenous people who were here before the creation of the FCT,” he stated.

He said it is essential to extend a hand of fellowship to those who resided in the territory before the creation of the FCT, asking, “If those who make peace cannot be appreciated with land, who should be?”

The minister praised the monarchs for their role in ensuring that the recent Area Council elections were the most peaceful in the history of the territory.

To further support their efforts in maintaining order, Wike also pledged to provide utility vehicles for all traditional rulers within the FCT.

Wike noted that it would be “unfair” to require traditional rulers to source large sums of money for titles to land they have inhabited for generations.

Beyond land administration, the minister also cited several ongoing infrastructure projects aimed at developing satellite towns. These include the dualization of the Airport-Kuje road, the Bwari-Zuba link road, projects in Apo/Karshi and Basan Jiwa, and the completion of the Gbazango road network.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the Council, the Ona of Abaji and Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, pledged the continued support of traditional institutions for the administration’s policies.

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