Wike Rejects UniAbuja ASUU Strike Threat as Dispute Over 7,000 Hectares of Land Deepens

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed a threatened strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Abuja over the controversial reallocation of portions of the institution’s land.

The disagreement centres on the FCT Administration’s decision to recover a substantial portion of land previously claimed by the university, a move that has generated opposition from lecturers and other university stakeholders.

The university’s ASUU chapter has accused the minister of interfering with land reserved for the institution’s long-term academic development, while the FCT Administration maintains its position on the land recovery exercise.

The dispute has raised wider concerns about land administration, institutional property rights and the allocation of public land in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.

Wike Dismisses Lecturers’ Threat of Industrial Action

Wike’s response followed warnings by the University of Abuja chapter of ASUU that industrial peace could no longer be guaranteed unless the disputed land allocations were reversed.

The union has expressed concern that the reallocation of university land to private developers and government agencies could undermine the institution’s future expansion.

However, the FCT minister has dismissed the threatened industrial action, signalling that the disagreement remains unresolved.

The controversy has intensified public debate over the powers of the FCT Administration to recover and reallocate land previously designated for federal institutions.

ASUU Accuses FCT Administration of Unlawful Land Reallocation

The Chairperson of ASUU at the University of Abuja, Professor Sylvanus Ugoh, accused the FCT Administration of disregarding the institution’s land rights.

Speaking during a news conference in Abuja, Ugoh called for the immediate reversal of the disputed allocations.

The union alleged that the minister proceeded with land allocations despite an interlocutory court order issued on August 18, 2026, restraining encroachment on the university’s land.

According to ASUU, the disputed allocations were subsequently made on September 26, 2026.

These claims remain allegations by the union, and the legal implications will depend on the relevant court proceedings and the terms of any applicable orders.

Dispute Centres on Thousands of Hectares of University Land

The disagreement dates back to the FCT Administration’s decision to recover approximately 7,000 hectares from land claimed by the University of Abuja.

Wike had announced the recovery exercise in June 2025, questioning the university’s claim to a large expanse of land.

ASUU maintains that the institution was originally allocated approximately 11,824 hectares following its establishment in 1988.

The union argues that the land was intended to accommodate the university’s long-term academic, research, residential and infrastructural needs.

It also maintains that university development should be assessed over several decades rather than solely on the basis of currently constructed facilities.

University Says Land Is Needed for Future Expansion

ASUU has defended the size of the university’s landholding, arguing that federal universities require substantial space for academic growth and future development.

According to the union, the disputed land could support research institutes, innovation centres, teaching facilities, student accommodation and other institutional infrastructure.

It also highlighted the importance of retaining green areas for environmental protection and ecological sustainability.

The union cited other Nigerian universities with extensive landholdings to support its argument that the University of Abuja’s original allocation was not excessive.

It maintained that the pace of university development should not automatically justify the recovery of land reserved for future expansion.

Land Dispute Raises Questions About Abuja Land Administration

The disagreement highlights the challenges associated with public land administration in the Federal Capital Territory.

Land allocation, revocation, documentation and development control remain sensitive issues, particularly where federal institutions and private development interests are involved.

The controversy also raises questions about the need for transparent procedures, accurate land records and compliance with judicial decisions.

For real estate developers and prospective investors, disputes involving land ownership or allocation can create uncertainty over property rights and development approvals.

The situation underscores the importance of proper title verification and regulatory due diligence before undertaking construction or property transactions.

Calls Grow for Resolution of University Land Dispute

ASUU has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the disagreement and ensure that the university’s interests are protected.

The union has also indicated its willingness to resist what it considers unlawful interference with the institution’s property rights through legally permissible means.

With Wike rejecting the threatened strike, attention is expected to turn to further engagement among the FCT Administration, university authorities, lecturers and other relevant institutions.

A resolution will require clarity over the original land allocation, subsequent administrative decisions and the legal status of the disputed property.

The controversy highlights the need to balance urban development objectives with the long-term requirements of public educational institutions.

As the dispute continues, the outcome could have broader implications for land governance, institutional development and public confidence in property administration within the Federal Capital Territory.