ABUJA: The Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA has inaugurated two separate committees to tackle persistent issues related to land use violations and the ongoing controversy at River Park Estate.
The first committee, tasked with reviewing land use and property purposes, is chaired by the Director of Development Control.
Its mandate is to identify areas where the Land Use Act has been grossly violated and to recommend corrective measures.
FCT minister, Nyesom Wike who inaugurated the committees specifically highlighted several key areas for review, including the Central Business District, Maitama, Asokoro, and Garki.
The committee’s members include the Directors of Land Administration, Surveying and Mapping, AGIS, Engineering Services, and Urban and Regional Planning.
The second committee will focus specifically on the long-standing dispute surrounding River Park Estate.
This committee, chaired by the General Counsel/Secretary of the FCT Legal Service Secretariat, will review the complex issues plaguing the estate.
Its members are the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Lands, Urban and Regional Planning; the Deputy Director, Lands; the Director of Security; the Director of Development Control; and the Director of AGIS.
The crisis at River Park Estate is a multifaceted issue involving accusations of corporate fraud, forgery, and illegal land grabbing.
At the heart of the matter are allegations that three Ghanaian nationals and a Nigerian associate unlawfully took control of JonahCapital Nigeria Limited, a company with significant interests in the estate.
The dispute also involves a land ownership clash with Dunamis International Church, which has been accused of occupying part of the estate for a parking lot, a claim the church denies.
The matter has drawn the attention of the Nigeria Police Force, which is investigating the corporate fraud allegations and has filed criminal charges.
However, the Ghanaian businessmen involved have accused the police of harassment and have filed lawsuits against various government agencies for alleged human rights violations.
In an effort to maintain stability, an FCT High Court has issued a “status quo” order, preventing any party from taking actions that could alter the subject of the dispute, such as processing key land titles, until a final judgment is reached.
