FCT Minister Wike grants land titles to traditional rulers as Tinubu approves waiver of statutory fees in Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), , has granted land titles to traditional rulers in Abuja and announced a full waiver of statutory fees attached to the allocations.
The announcement was made during a meeting with members of the FCT Council of Chiefs, where the Minister presented land allocation documents as part of efforts to strengthen ties between the government and indigenous authorities.
Wike disclosed that the waiver of statutory fees was approved by President , describing the move as a step toward recognizing the historical presence and contributions of indigenous communities in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the Minister, although the legal framework governing the FCT does not always reflect original land ownership, the current administration is committed to inclusiveness and fairness.
“We cannot deny the fact that there are indigenous people who were here before the creation of the FCT,” Wike said. “The President has directed that we extend a hand of fellowship to traditional rulers who have maintained peace and stability in their communities.”
He commended the monarchs for their role in ensuring peaceful Area Council elections across the FCT, noting that their contributions have helped maintain order and unity in the territory.
As part of additional support, Wike also promised to provide utility vehicles to traditional rulers to enhance their mobility and effectiveness in community leadership and security coordination.
The Minister further highlighted ongoing infrastructure development in satellite towns, revealing that several key projects are nearing completion and will be commissioned in June. These include the Airport–Kuje road dualization, the Bwari–Zuba link road, Apo–Karshi road, Basan Jiwa development, and the “Arab Road” network.
Wike emphasized that it would be unfair to require traditional rulers to pay large sums for land processing, especially for lands their communities have occupied for generations.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the FCT Council of Chiefs and Ona of Abaji, , expressed gratitude to the President and the FCT Minister for the gesture.
He assured the government of the continued support and cooperation of traditional rulers in maintaining peace and development across the Federal Capital Territory.
