Wike Defends Revocation Of Julius Berger’s Land Over 20 Years Of Inactivity

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has justified his decision to revoke Julius Berger’s certificate of occupancy (C of O) for a land parcel allocated to the company over two decades ago.

Speaking during the official launch of the Design and Construction of 40 Judges’ Quarters in Abuja, Wike emphasized that the land in Katampe District had remained undeveloped for years.

In the presence of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun and President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, Wike explained that the revocation served the public interest by addressing the urgent need for judges’ housing.

Read Also; Wike Reveals How He Reclaimed Julius Berger’s Land After Dinner With MD

“When we were looking for land to build these quarters, I noticed this empty plot marked as Julius Berger’s.

After confirming it had been allocated 15 to 20 years ago, and seeing it was still undeveloped, I decided to act,” Wike said.

Wike further disclosed that he met with the Managing Director of Julius Berger before issuing the revocation but did not discuss the matter during their meeting. The revocation letter was sent the next day.

Read Also: Wike Signs MoU With Chinese Engineering Firms For Electricity And Water Projects In FCT

Wike stressed that the decision was not personal but a necessary move to repurpose the land for public use.

“The government cannot allocate land for over 20 years with no development. Now, we have the opportunity to use it to build homes for our judges.” he said.

This initiative reflects Wike’s commitment to improving the working environment for the judiciary by efficiently repurposing unused land for essential infrastructure projects.