By ifeoma Onyekachi

In a move aimed at strengthening collaboration between government and traditional institutions, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike, has presented land allocation documents to members of the FCT Council of Traditional Rulers in Abuja.

The presentation, which took place during a meeting on Friday, forms part of ongoing efforts by the administration to recognise and support indigenous communities in the Federal Capital Territory.

During the event, Wike announced a full waiver of all statutory fees attached to the land titles, explaining that the decision was based on directives from President Bola Tinubu. According to him, the government acknowledges the historical presence of indigenous communities in the territory, even in cases where formal legal processes did not fully recognise original land ownership.

He stressed that the government has a responsibility to support communities that occupied the land before the creation of the FCT, noting that traditional rulers play a critical role in maintaining peace and stability across the territory.

The minister commended the monarchs for their role in ensuring peaceful conduct during the recent Area Council elections and pledged that the administration would provide utility vehicles to traditional rulers to support their official functions. He added that it would be unfair to require indigenous communities to pay large sums for land they have occupied for generations.

Wike also highlighted ongoing infrastructure development in satellite towns across the FCT, including the dualisation of the Airport–Kuje Road, the Bwari–Zuba link road, ongoing projects in Apo and Karshi, works in Basan Jiwa, and the completion of the Gbazango road network.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Ona of Abaji and Chairman of the Council, Adamu Baba Yunusa, expressed appreciation to the minister and pledged continued support from traditional institutions for government policies and development initiatives in the Federal Capital Territory.