University lecturers accuse FCT Minister of violating a court order over alleged land allocations, demand presidential intervention
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch, has threatened a major confrontation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the alleged encroachment and allocation of university land to private individuals and companies.
The union warned that the continued dispute could jeopardise industrial harmony at the institution, urging the minister to respect the rule of law and reverse the alleged illegal allocations.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the ASUU-UniAbuja Chairman, Professor Sylvanus Ugoh, accused the FCT Administration of disregarding a court order restraining the minister from encroaching on the disputed land.
According to the union, an interlocutory injunction issued by the Maitama High Court on August 18, 2026, directed parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.
ASUU alleged that despite the court order, portions of the university’s land had been allocated to private interests, describing the development as an affront to the rule of law and the autonomy of the institution.
The union maintained that the land was legally allocated to the University of Abuja by the Federal Government and was intended to accommodate the institution’s long-term expansion and development.
It argued that the university’s land should not be considered surplus property simply because some portions had yet to be developed, noting that the institution required adequate space for academic facilities, research centres and other infrastructure.
The dispute dates back to June 2025, when Wike reportedly announced plans to recover approximately 7,000 hectares of land from the university’s allocation.
The minister had accused the institution of land grabbing and alleged that it had fenced off portions of land without proper approval or documentation.
However, ASUU has maintained that the university’s land was legally acquired and that any attempt to allocate it to private interests must be challenged.
The union called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the dispute and direct the FCT Minister to reverse the alleged allocations.
It also demanded an immediate halt to further allocations of the university’s land, warning that failure to address the matter could trigger industrial action and disrupt academic activities.
ASUU acknowledged the minister’s infrastructure development efforts in the FCT but insisted that the protection of a federal university’s property must remain a priority.
The union stressed that the land was acquired for public educational purposes and should not be appropriated for private commercial interests.
The dispute has raised concerns over the protection of public educational institutions’ land and the potential impact of the disagreement on academic activities at the University of Abuja.
ASUU maintained that it would continue to pursue legal and other legitimate means to protect the institution’s property and ensure that the court’s directives were respected.
