***Development Control Halts Illegal Construction, Vows Offenders Will Face the Law
The face-off between the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and developers at River Park Estate, Abuja, took a new turn on Wednesday as the Department of Development Control stormed the site to halt what it described as “illegal construction” carried out in defiance of a ministerial directive.
Director of the department, Tpl. Mukhtar Galadima, who led the enforcement team, said the operation was part of efforts to ensure full compliance with the directive of the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, which ordered an immediate suspension of all ongoing developments within the estate.
“We are here to ensure total compliance with the ministerial directive that no development should be allowed in the River Park Estate,” Galadima told journalists during the exercise.
He explained that similar operations had been conducted in the past but the team had to return following reports that the developer had resumed work on the disputed site despite clear warnings.
“We got a report that there is an ongoing development. That’s why we rushed here to ensure the work is stopped and the structure being erected is removed,” he said.
The Director disclosed that the FCTA would no longer rely solely on demolitions to enforce compliance, revealing that legal action would now be taken against the erring developer to set a precedent.
“We are liaising with our Legal Secretariat to ensure this case is taken up legally so that we don’t come back again. Nobody is above government,” he warned.
Galadima confirmed that the developer was fully aware of the ministerial order, which followed the recommendations of an ad-hoc committee set up by Minister Wike to investigate controversies surrounding the estate.
The committee, inaugurated on August 8, 2025, found the developer in breach of the Development Lease Agreement (DLA) and recommended that all undeveloped plots within River Park Estate be reverted to the FCTA.
It further stated that the revocation became necessary following the expiration and violation of the DLA, as well as the need to reassert administrative control over affected plots in accordance with Clause 9.2 of the agreement.
The committee also directed that only holders of genuine and compliant “customary” titles within the estate should retain ownership, while all ongoing and new constructions remain suspended pending resolution of ownership and compliance issues.
Galadima reiterated that the next course of action would be determined after consultations with the FCT Legal Secretariat.
“At this moment, I can’t say much because, as I mentioned earlier, we are going to consult the Legal Secretariat on what next line of action should be taken,” he added.
