The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Kwamoti Laori Bitrus today gave a restraining order against the Nigerian Navy directing them not to force out any inhabitants of Tunga-Giwa, Tunga-Wakili, Tunga-Madaki, Iddo Sarki and Nuwalege communities of the Federal Capital Territory from their residences in a disputed land pending the resolution of the petition before it.
Hon. Laori Bitrus made the order today at the National Assembly while presiding over a petition before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions filed by the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) Federal Capital Territory Office against the Nigerian Navy.
The was in response to the concern raised by Honourable Federal Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission Hon Musa Dikko that members of the affected communities had allegedly been given until December to vacate the disputed land.
The petition which borders on allegations of criminal trespass, intimidation, unlawful seizure of farmland, and extortion involving the Nigerian Navy and its personnel was filed by PCC on behalf of the affected Communities.
Presenting the petition, the Hon Commissioner Public Complaints Commission FCT Hon Musa Dikko told the House of Representatives Committee that the PCC had received numerous complaints from distressed citizens and community leaders in Tunga-Giwa, Tunga-Wakili, Tunga-Madaki, Iddo Sarki and Nuwalege communities alleging unauthorized trespass and forceful takeover of their ancestral lands.
In the petition, Hon. Dikko also said that according to the leaders of the affected Communities, these threats are allegedly by officers acting on the instruction of the Nigerian Navy which have resulted in significant hardship, insecurity and economic loss for the affected communities stressing that these acts, in the opinion of the Public Complaints Commission could lead to severe humanitarian crises and administrative injustice.
The alleged actions of the Navy against the communities including;
threatening and demolition of residential buildings and other community assets, use of armed personnel to intimidate them by overseeing the demolition, and failure to give formal notice of demolition to the affected families in violation of the Land Use Act and invariably the principle of Natural Justice.
The Nigeria Navy also allegedly took over the communities’ lands without permission, compensation or notice, as well as seized farmlands, affecting the communities’ primary sources of livelihood. resulting in the residents living in constant fear of eviction, arrest or worse.
The Commission said in the petition that it is aware that there is laid down procedure for the compensation, resettlement and integration of indigenes within the FCT and that PCC recognizes the statutory power of government to acquire land from the citizens for public interest but exercise of such powers has attached obligations or responsibilities the government ought to discharge in favour of the victims of such acquisition of land.
In the case of acquisition of land, PCC underlined that the government has obligation to adequately compensate the victims or resettle them elsewhere.
The communities in question Dikko stressed had existed before the creation of the FCT in 1976 and had suffered incessant threats and invasions in the hands of the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Navy and implores the House Committee on Public Petitions to Conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations, ensure the communities rights are protected and their lands are secured.
PCC also wants the National Assembly to facilitate dialogue between the communities and the Nigeria Navy to resolve the issue amicably, ensure strict adherence to laws guiding land acquisition in the FCT, provide support and assistance to affected communities. as well as engage the communities’ in the decision-making processes affecting their lands and livelihood.
During the sitting, Hon. Laori Bitrus commended the FCT PCC Commissioner, Hon. Musa Dikko for bringing the matter before the National Assembly, describing the Commission’s intervention as a vital step in protecting the rights of citizens, upholding the rule of law and promised a speedy consideration of the petition.
In response to the plea by the Nigerian Navy represented by Lt. Esla Thomas Angbashim that it just received a copy of the petition few days ago and needed time to study and respond to it, the Committee Chairman, Hon.Kwamoti Laori Bitrus adjourned proceedings on the matter to the 9th of December, 2025 to allow the Nigerian Navy file their defense to the petition.
Present at the hearing were the communities affected by the alleged actions of the Nigerian Navy.
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