‘What’s your business with land’ - Wike blasts UniAbuja lecturers as strike looms

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has criticized the University of Abuja's Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter for threatening to shut down the institution over land-related issues. During a media briefing, Wike questioned the union's authority to challenge land allocation in Abuja, stating that land administration in the FCT falls under the FCT Administration and not the trade union.

He asked, "What is the business of ASUU on our land? How is ASUU the owner of land? Is ASUU the owner of the union in Nigeria now? Is it the union's right?"

Wike dismissed claims that the FCTA was acquiring land, asserting that the administration was merely enforcing the Abuja Master Plan and reclaiming undeveloped land that had been improperly allocated without proper documentation and approvals. He described the union's strike threat as "blackmail" and emphasized that the FCTA would not be coerced into reversing its decisions. He also stated that the FCTA is prepared to defend the land allocations should ASUU take the matter to court.

The dispute began on Tuesday when ASUU UniAbuja chairman, Professor Sylvanus Ugoh, held a press conference in Abuja, alleging that Wike had granted portions of university land in Giri District to private individuals and companies, despite a court order restraining him. ASUU claimed that Justice F.E. Mesiri of the Maitama High Court issued an interlocutory injunction on August 18, 2026, prohibiting Wike from interfering with the disputed land.

The union argued that portions of the land were still allocated to private interests on September 26, 2026, despite the injunction, and emphasized that the university had been allocated 11,824 hectares since its establishment in 1988. This land is needed for future expansion, hostels, research centers, and innovation hubs.