Mr. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has called on individuals circulating claims of land grabbing by the Federal Capital Territory Administrator (FCTA) to provide concrete evidence of ownership.
He criticized self-proclaimed social media activists for promoting unverified allegations and urged them to investigate issues thoroughly before making public statements.
Addressing the case of Plot No. 2241 in Gwarimpa District, Life Camp, Olayinka clarified in a statement made available to newsmen that the land had been occupied by Paulosa Nigeria Limited since 1984 under a Temporary Right of Occupancy.
He explained that while the company applied for a Statutory Right of Occupancy in 2020, approval was granted in 2023, subject to specific terms, including payments totaling over N57 million for ground rent and premiums.
However, Paulosa Nigeria Limited failed to fulfill these terms within the stipulated 20-month period, leading to the revocation of the approval in October 2024.
Olayinka emphasized that the company never owned the land legally, likening the situation to a student losing admission for failing to meet the university’s conditions.
Olayinka urged social media commentators to verify claims thoroughly before amplifying them. Referring to previous incidents, he criticized individuals who failed to seek proper information from government agencies, resulting in the dissemination of misinformation.
He highlighted a case where land allocated for recreational purposes was misused for building a school and church, contravening the original allocation terms.
“Those advocating for human rights must ensure they are not used to promote baseless allegations,” he concluded.
