By Joyce Babayeju
The Katampe Extension Residents Association (KERA) has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for ordering the arrest of a developer and the demolition of illegal structures built on plots originally reserved for diplomatic missions and critical infrastructure in the Katampe Extension Diplomatic Zone.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Chairman of the association, Mohammed Gimba described the minister’s intervention as a “timely and courageous step” toward restoring the integrity of the Abuja Master Plan and addressing years of unlawful land conversion in Katampe District.
According to Gimba, the illegally converted plots were originally allocated in 2008 for diplomatic residential purposes and public utilities within the Diplomatic Zone of Katampe Extension under the supervision of the Federal Capital Development Authority.
” That an individual now identified as Alhaji Kabiru Sahara, illegally converted diplomatic plots to residential development speaks of the level of impunity and corruption in land administration in the FCT”
“For years, residents raised alarms about the illegal takeover of these strategic plots and others, despite repeated warnings and complaints to relevant authorities, construction continued in open defiance of regulations,” Gimba said.
He said the minister’s directive ordering the developer’s arrest and the demolition of the illegal structures has restored hope among residents that the Federal Capital Territory Administration is prepared to enforce planning laws and protect land reserved for diplomatic and public purposes.
“KERA warmly welcomes this decisive action by the Honourable Minister. It sends a strong message that impunity and disregard for the Abuja Master Plan will no longer be tolerated,” the statement added.
However, the association also urged the FCT Administration to extend the enforcement exercise to other parts of Katampe Extension where lands originally reserved for essential public services have been illegally converted into private housing developments.
Residents pointed out that several plots designated for critical community infrastructure—including schools, hospitals, a police station, and a fire service station—have reportedly been taken over by land grabbers and converted into residential estates.
According to KERA, the continued loss of these public facilities poses serious risks to community safety, urban planning, and the long-term sustainability of the district.
“Katampe Extension cannot function as a proper residential district without the schools, healthcare facilities, security posts, and emergency services originally provided for in the master plan,” the association stated.
The residents therefore called on the FCT Administration to undertake a comprehensive audit of land allocations and enforce compliance with approved land-use plans across the district.
The association further pledged its readiness to cooperate with the FCT Administration and relevant agencies to ensure that all illegally acquired lands are recovered and returned to their original designated purposes.
“We believe that the restoration of these public lands will not only protect the integrity of the Abuja Master Plan but also safeguard the quality of life for residents, diplomats, and future generations in Katampe Extension,” the statement concluded
