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FCT Officials Apologize to Wike After Clash With Naval Officers
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Officials insist disputed Gaduwa property lacks legal development approval.
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Investigation highlights threats and insufficient documents from site handlers.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has apologised to the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, following the confrontation between him and armed naval officers at a disputed property in the Gaduwa District of Abuja.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that speaking after the FCT Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, senior officials expressed regret over the incident but insisted that the structure in question was an illegal development. They also outlined a timeline of events and maintained that individuals linked to former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd), had no legal claim to the land.
The Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, began the briefing with an apology to the minister, describing the events of November 11 as unfortunate. He explained that officials first noticed the ongoing construction on October 17 during routine monitoring. When they demanded documentation and proof of approval, they were confronted by naval officers who allegedly threatened to shoot.
Galadima said the officers later presented documents he described as insufficient. According to him, the only paper produced was a 2007 letter of intent from the Department of Parks and Recreation, which he stressed does not constitute legal approval for development.
He recalled telling the site officer that no construction can lawfully begin in the FCT without official approval and emphasised that the development was illegal. Galadima added that he invited the Minister to the scene due to the presence of armed personnel positioned in a threatening manner.
He apologised again for the situation, acknowledging the tension created and expressing regret that the Minister had to intervene under such circumstances.
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