UNIABUJA VC Reacts To Wike’s Land Grabbing Allegations
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, formerly University of Abuja, Prof. Lar Patricia Manko, has faulted the allegation of land grabbing levelled against the institution by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Manko, while speaking to journalists in Abuja, described the university’s ownership of the disputed 11,000 hectares of land as legitimate, stating that it was duly allocated by the Federal Government and forms part of the institution’s legacy assets.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that during the commissioning of the Giri access road in the FCT on June 30, Wike had accused the university of illegally occupying 11,000 hectares of land.
“No document, nothing. That’s all you see there, fencing everywhere. And before you know it, they were going to sell our land. So I’ve told the Director of Lands and the other relevant agencies to carve out 4,000 hectares and give it to the university. They are the ones who are going to protect it,” Wike alleged.
But reacting to the development, Manko maintained that the institution acted within the law, insisting that the land was not encroached upon.
“Yakubu Gowon University is not in the business of land grabbing. The land in question was officially allocated to us by the Federal Government. It is a legacy asset, and we have concrete plans for its use,” she said.
According to the VC, the university intends to utilise the expanse for a wide range of academic and infrastructural purposes, including agriculture, tourism, staff quarters, student hostels, and research centres.
She explained that although some of the projects had been stalled due to lack of funding, the institution had entered into various Memoranda of Understanding with investors to fast-track development.
She further stated that the university’s current staff quarters were temporarily situated on land provided by the military, adding that plans were underway to erect permanent structures at the main site.
“We are not selling the land. Rather, we are engaging credible investors to help develop it in line with our academic vision,” Manko clarified.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
