• Raises concern over reallocation of site meant for skills empowerment project
• Calls for suspension of development pending court ruling
The Women’s Inclusion, Empowerment, and Leadership Development Initiative (WIELD-I) has appealed to the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike, to urgently intervene in a land dispute concerning a parcel originally designated for a women-focused skill acquisition centre in Jabi, Abuja.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, WIELD-I Convener, Comrade Amarachi Okeke, expressed deep concern over what the group described as the “contemptuous reallocation” of Park No. 87, Sector B, Cadastral Zone B16, a space allocated to AGM Giwabul Ventures, with portions dedicated to the Nigeria Professional Working Women for the establishment of a skill acquisition facility.
According to WIELD-I, the proposed centre was designed to offer vocational training, entrepreneurship support, and economic empowerment opportunities for unskilled and unemployed women across the FCT and surrounding areas. The project, the group said, aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance women’s inclusion and capacity under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
However, the organization noted that despite a pending legal case before the FCT High Court (Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/524/2023) regarding the original allocation, the land was reallocated twice, first in February 2025 to Aura Core Investment Ltd (File No. MISC 152831) and again in April 2025 to another developer, Home and Health Ltd (File No. MISC 155056). WIELD-I described these moves as legally and procedurally questionable.
“This is not just about land,” Comrade Okeke said. “It’s about access to opportunity, justice, and the dignity of Nigerian women. The ongoing legal process should be respected, and all activities on the land should be suspended until the court gives a final ruling.”
The group also raised environmental concerns, noting that the parcel of land sits along a known waterway, and any unregulated development could pose a serious flood risk. It called for strict adherence to environmental regulations and urged the relevant departments to conduct a thorough review before any further development is allowed.
WIELD-I called on the Honourable Minister to order an immediate halt to all ongoing activities on the site and initiate an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reallocation. The group also appealed to the FCT Police Command to avoid any involvement in enforcing property rights while the case is still in court.
In a broader appeal, WIELD-I called on the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to lend her support to the project, given her well-known commitment to women’s development through the Renewed Hope Initiative. “Her Excellency has been a consistent advocate for women’s empowerment. We believe that this matter, once brought to her attention, will receive the necessary attention it deserves,” Okeke said.
The group commended the Director General of the State Security Service (DSS) for ordering the conclusion of investigations into the matter and urged for appropriate disciplinary actions against any officials found culpable.
WIELD-I concluded by reaffirming its commitment to constructive dialogue, due process, and the advancement of women’s empowerment projects in line with national development goals. It emphasized that its position is not one of confrontation but of advocacy for fairness, equity, and the rule of law.
“This centre represents hope and self-reliance for many women. We cannot afford to lose that vision to bureaucratic irregularities,” the group stated.
