Wike Assures River Park Residents: “No One is Coming for Your Property”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has moved to end rising fears among homeowners in Abuja’s controversial River Park Estate, firmly declaring that the government has no plans to seize their property.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday, September 20, 2025, after inspecting parts of the estate where illegal structures were recently demolished, Wike stressed that the FCT Administration’s priority is not to dispossess citizens but to ensure that property owners follow due process.

The River Park Puzzle

Wike shed light on the complex history of River Park Estate. According to him, a Ghanaian company, Jonah AD, originally secured a lease with the FCT Administration over two decades ago. However, the company later transferred authority to a third party, Paulo Homes — a move Wike said was both unauthorized and a violation of the original lease.

“That lease has since expired. And worse still, Paulo Homes had no business with the FCT,” Wike explained. “Yet, they continued to sell land to unsuspecting Nigerians. To protect innocent buyers, we resolved to issue them fresh Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) directly from the FCT Administration.”

Min. of FCT

Why Demolitions Happened

The minister accused Paulo Homes of rushing new constructions in a bid to pressure the government. “They tried to tie our hands. But we will not succumb,” he said. “That is why the Department of Development Control moved in and removed those structures. We will keep doing so.”

Wike warned residents against falling prey to shady land deals, making it clear that any new construction on expired or unauthorized plots will be demolished.

No Cause for Panic

Despite the chaos, Wike reassured homeowners that their investments are safe. “Nobody is taking your property. All C of O obtained through Paulo Homes are void, but we will reissue valid C of O directly from the FCT. Next week, we’ll meet with property owners here to explain the process. So, there’s no cause for alarm.”

Before visiting River Park, the minister inspected ongoing work at the arterial road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way) to check progress on site.