The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has directed authorities to arrest the individual responsible for constructing illegal structures on multiple plots of land originally designated for foreign missions in the diplomatic zone of Katampe Extension, Abuja.

Mr Wike, while conducting an inspection of ongoing projects in the territory on Friday, said he ordered the Department of Development Control to equally demolish all the illegal structures on the affected land.

The minister stated that the affected piece of land was originally allocated on March 18, 2008, to 10 embassies for diplomatic residential purposes, while a portion was allotted to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) for a 132/133 kV power station.

The minister said the FCT Administration discovered that an individual had unlawfully usurped the land and constructed buildings thereon without the authority’s approval.

Mr Wike disclosed that the suspected building constructor, Kabiru Sahara, had been apprehended and would be prosecuted after the ongoing investigation by the police is completed.

“This land was allocated to various embassies. Somebody just came here, took the land and started developing it on his own without approval from the FCDA. We cannot allow this kind of land invasion to continue.

“The man has been arrested, and he will be charged to court. The police are carrying out their investigations, and he will be charged to court any moment from now,” the minister said.

The minister noted that the encroached piece of land belonged to Thailand, Bulgaria, Syria, Somalia, Serbia and Montenegro, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Senegal, and the Palestine Liberation Organisation diplomatic missions.

Following its discovery, the minister said the FCT Administration has notified the concerned diplomatic missions to immediately take possession of their designated lands.

During the tour, Mr Wike inspected the redesigned Abuja City Gate, the road linking Bill Clinton Drive of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the Tunga Madaki community, which would be extended to Zuba.

He also inspected the road linking Baze University, the Body of Benchers, Nile University, and the Wupa Light Rail Station in the Idu Area of Abuja, as well as the Body of Benchers’ office annex.

The minister stated that many of the ongoing projects, being constructed by companies such as Julius Berger Nigeria, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, and Levant Construction, would be inaugurated during President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary.

Mr Wike explained that the infrastructure initiative was part of the FCT Administration’s broader efforts to create new communities and foster connectivity across the territory.