A dispute over 11,824 hectares allocated to the University of Abuja has prompted a strike warning from lecturers and a defense of the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s land authority.
The University of Abuja chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it needs the land for expansion, agricultural research and infrastructure. It objects to portions being assigned to private developers and government agencies, BusinessDay reported.
At a press conference, chapter chairman Sylvanus Ugoh warned that ASUU might take industrial action if the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) did not reverse the Giri District reallocation, BusinessDay reported.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike addressed the warning at his monthly media chat in Port Harcourt on Thursday. He said the FCTA controls land allocation and is responsible for applying Abuja’s master plan. Wike rejected allegations of land grabbing, describing the administration’s actions as part of its role in regulating land use and urban development. He challenged ASUU’s standing in the dispute, asking, “What is the business of ASUU on our land?”
Wike said the administration would not reverse the decision in response to the strike threat and was prepared to defend its position in court if ASUU pursued legal action. He questioned why a university should hold thousands of hectares without developing them, arguing that extensive public land holdings could constrain other projects in the capital. He also said government institutions should show they have the necessary land approvals and are using their holdings, BusinessDay reported.
ASUU has indicated it intends to challenge the reallocation in court, according to BusinessDay. The union says the assignments could affect the university’s future development plans.
