UniAbuja Alumni Urge Tinubu to Stop Wike’s Land Revocation Scheme

The University of Abuja Alumni Association has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s plan to revoke a substantial portion of the university’s land. The association said the move, led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, would cut the institution’s allocation from about 11,800 hectares to roughly 4,000 hectares, a development they warn could severely hinder its long-term expansion and academic growth. Alumni President Habeeb-Ullah Abdulkadir described the revocation as “illegal and arbitrary,” noting that the land was allocated in 1988 during the Ibrahim Babangida administration to accommodate future infrastructure, research facilities, and agricultural projects. He called on Tinubu to order an immediate halt to the action and begin stakeholder consultations. Abdulkadir added that the association would explore legal oltion, peaceful protests, and a “Save UniAbuja” campaign if the decision is not reversed. Wike, however, denied personally revoking the land, saying the decision predates his tenure. He argued that large parts of the disputed land are already in use by other government agencies and that the remaining 4,000 hectares are adequate for the university’s needs. He said the action was part of efforts to enforce Abuja’s urban development policies and curb land speculation. The alumni maintain that the land is protected under the Land Use Act and that revoking it without due process or compensation violates legal provisions. They have urged the president to urgently step in to protect the university’s development plans.