Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has insisted the government will proceed with its takeover and redevelopment plans for Jabi Lake in Abuja “even if God comes down,” amid growing tensions over revoked allocations around the popular recreational site.
Wike defended the decision during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, dismissing emotional appeals, including a viral video of Rev. Serah Omaku, Senior Pastor of Family Worship Centre, Abuja, who was seen kneeling at the pulpit pleading against the government’s action. The footage circulated widely on social media and sparked public debate over the redevelopment plan.
“I’m not carried away by such emotions,” Wike said. “They kneel down to do what? Who owns Jabi Lake? How does it become their own? First of all, I came on board and found that this was given out to one company for more than 15, 16 years.”
Wike said the area had originally been allocated to a private company for recreational development, but accused the developers of abandoning the project and allowing the site to deteriorate into what he described as “shanties.”
“When you go there, you see shanties. They have turned it into shanties. One of these days I went there myself,” he said. “That is a hotel. Who would come to stay in that hotel where there are shanties and you don’t know whether they are criminals or what? In the morning they come out to do exercise — that is not what should happen. Which part of the world would you see such water on their land and allow this?”
Wike disclosed that the allocation had been revoked and said the land would be reallocated to investors capable of delivering proper development under strict conditions. “You cannot allocate land and leave it for that long with nothing to show. We revoked it. Now we want to give it to people who are ready to develop it,” he said.
He added that reallocated plots would carry clear timelines and conditions. “If there is no development within the specified time, we will take it back,” Wike warned.
Taking a swipe at critics, Wike questioned claims that the exercise was aimed at denying public access to Jabi Lake, saying the goal was to restore order and ensure proper use of prime assets in the capital. He also referenced a pastor who had sided with residents, saying he did not know how the cleric came to be involved or how he obtained Wike’s contact details.
Wike stressed that several plots around the lake had remained undeveloped for over a decade and said the FCT Administration was moving decisively to end land speculation and reclaim abandoned spaces for the public interest.
