Members of the FCT Council of Traditional Rulers have received land allocations from Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, who has also waived all statutory payments for their land titles.
Wike also announced the fee waiver during the Friday event in Abuja, claiming it was in accordance with President Bola Tinubu’s orders.
“We cannot deny the fact that there are indigenous people who were here before the creation of the FCT.
“The President said we must extend a hand of fellowship to you. We must give honor to whom honor is due. If those who make peace cannot be appreciated with land, who should be?” Wike said.
The minister also praised the traditional leaders for helping to ensure the “most peaceful” Area Council elections in the region’s history.
He promised to give utility vehicles to all traditional rulers in the FCT “so that you will be able to carry out your duties as expected” in order to further assist their work.
The former Rivers State governor highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects in the satellite towns, including the dualization of the Airport-Kuje road, the Bwari-Zuba link road, developments in Apo/Karshi and Basan Jiwa, and the completion of the Arab Road network.
Speaking on the fee waiver, Wike noted that it would be unfair to ask traditional rulers to scout for large sums of money to pay for land they have inhabited for generations.
“The president has also said I should waive the payment of statutory fees. We cannot give you the task to go and look for money to pay,” the minister told the traditional rulers.
The Ona of Abaji and Adamu Yunusa, the Chairman of the Council, thanked the President and the Minister and pledged that the traditional institutions will continue to support the initiatives of the government.
The federal government and traditional institutions, which are crucial to local governance and community leadership, are still interacting at the time of the decision.
Traditional rulers in the Federal Capital Territory have served as go-betweens for citizens and government officials over the years, assisting in the upkeep of law and order during elections and land administration.
