​Land Dispute: ASUU UniAbuja Threatens Strike Action Over Wike’s Alleged Land Seizure

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja (UniAbuja) branch, has threatened an immediate breakdown of industrial harmony on campus unless the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, reverses the alleged allocation of the institution’s land to private interests.
​Addressing journalists at a press conference tagged “Ministerial Encroachment into University of Abuja Land: Some Points to Ponder,” ASUU UniAbuja Chairperson, Prof. Sylvanus Ugoh, called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and order the minister to desist from further actions.
​The press briefing followed an emergency congress of the union held on Monday, November 3, 2026, to address the escalating land dispute.
​Alleged Disregard for Court Order
​Prof. Ugoh accused the FCT Minister of overriding an active court order safeguarding the university’s territory.
​“On August 18, Justice F.E. Mesiri of the Maitama High Court granted interlocutory injunctions, including an order restraining the FCT Minister from entering or encroaching on University land. In spite of the court order, the FCT Minister went ahead on September 26 to allocate the university land to companies and individuals,” Ugoh stated.
​The dispute stems back to June 30, 2025, when Wike announced during a road flag-off in Giri that the FCT Administration had retrieved 7,000 hectares out of the 11,824 hectares allocated to UniAbuja. Wike had accused the university of “land grabbing” and fencing large swathes without required administrative approvals.
​‘UniAbuja Land Allocation Not Excessive’
​Refuting the minister’s assertions, ASUU presented historical backing for the university’s land claims:
​Foundational Allocation: Established on January 1, 1988, the Federal Government originally allocated 11,824 hectares to accommodate long-term development, dual-mode academic programs, research centers, and ecological green zones.
​National Comparisons: Ugoh noted that UniAbuja’s landmass aligns with other federal universities—pointing out that the University of Ilorin occupies 15,000 hectares, Obafemi Awolowo University (Ile-Ife) 13,000 hectares, FUT Minna 10,650 hectares, and FUNAAB Abeokuta 10,000 hectares.
Approximately 2,000 hectares of the assigned land mass consist of hilly terrain, which requires substantial resources and long-term capital investment to develop.
​”We appreciate the zeal of the FCT Minister to develop the FCT, but the argument that the land has been left undeveloped for too long does not stand. Universities gradually realise their full potential,” Ugoh argued, reiterating that the institution remains federal property beyond FCTA jurisdiction.
​The union warned that it will employ all lawful and industrial actions available to prevent any further annexation of the university’s land.