Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has approved the payment of N5 million as a penalty for land use violations in the nation’s capital.

 Wike gave the approval in his office in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving the reports of the two ad-hoc ministerial committees inaugurated to review the controversies surrounding River Park Estate, and other committees.

The minister who approved the recommendations of both committees lamented the rampant land use violations in the FCT and vowed to enforce the penalties to restore law and order, warning that failure to pay the stipulated penalties will lead to the revocation of titles.

“I’m aware that certain areas are designated for residential purposes, certain areas are designated for commercial purposes, but people believe that they can do anything without appropriate involvement.

“So, they change residential to commercial and commercial to residential and to all kinds of mixed uses, and if you don’t sanction them, it will continue to be so.

“We must let you know that we have to apply the sanctions as required, and anybody who does not comply, we have no choice but to revoke the title and withdraw it, and then we will be in a position to decide what to do with it.

As regards the problems about those applying for leases to build, that’s one area where I’ve seen a lot of malpractice,” he said.

Recall that the FCT Minister had, on Friday, 8 August 2025, inaugurated two significant ad-hoc committees with a two-week timeframe to review the issues and submit recommendations.

The committees – one on the review of controversies surrounding River Park Estate and the other on the review of land-use/purpose clauses of land and properties at locations overtaken by commercial and other activities – were also charged to discharge their duties with utmost professionalism.

The FCT General Counsel, Barr. Salman Dako, while delivering his report to the Minister, gave remedial directives as follows:

Direct that all undeveloped portions of land within the boundaries of River Park Estate be withdrawn and reverted to the FCT Administration. This measure is necessitated by the expiration and breach of the DLA and the need to reassert administrative control over the affected plots in line with Clause 9.2 of the DLA.

Direct that holders of previous “customary” titles whose plots fall within the River Park Estate boundaries and who have developed in accordance with applicable planning and development control regulations be permitted to retain their titles. This recommendation aligns with the subsisting court judgment referenced in paragraph 16.3.

Approve the relocation of other affected holders of valid but undeveloped titles to the designated site at Kpoto District and constitute a Special Committee to oversee the relocation process.