Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to issue Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) to indigenous people of the FCT who are living on their ancestral lands.
Wike made the promise on Wednesday during a thank-you visit to residents of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), where he emphasised the importance of giving indigenous communities a sense of belonging in the nation’s capital.
According to the minister, the initiative is aimed at addressing long-standing concerns about land rights among the original inhabitants of Abuja. He acknowledged the emotional and cultural significance of ancestral land to the people and assured them that his administration would work towards making the issuance of the C of O a reality.
“We must change the pattern of politics in Abuja; we must recognise that anywhere you go to, there are people there, and we must recognise them,” Wike said.
The minister said he understood the pain of being displaced from ancestral land and stressed that protecting indigenous settlements was a priority for his administration.
Wike explained that his visit to AMAC was also to express appreciation to the people for supporting candidates aligned with President Bola Tinubu during the Feb. 21 FCT area council elections.
“I am here to thank you for the support you gave to all the candidates in the area council elections. They are all supporters of Tinubu,” he stated.
He emphasised that political relationships should be mutually beneficial, describing them as symbiotic engagements between leaders and citizens.
“Meaning you do for me, I do for you; you fall for me, I fall for you; you push me, I push you; you love me, I love you,” the minister said.
Wike further promised to maintain close engagement with communities in the FCT, noting that President Tinubu had directed FCT ministers to regularly visit communities to better understand their needs.
He also urged residents to support leaders who genuinely understand their concerns rather than politicians who only appear during election periods.
Addressing the re-elected chairman of AMAC, Christopher Maikalangu, Wike called on him to prioritise the welfare of the people and ensure that their trust was not taken for granted.
“Anything your people want, our doors are open for you. Come to us,” he said.
“Please do not take their support for granted. Make sure we don’t disappoint our people and make sure all their efforts do not go in vain.”
Earlier, traditional rulers in AMAC led by the Sapeyi of Garki, Usman Nga Kupi, commended the minister for ongoing development projects in the FCT and appealed for further action on land allocations and protection of indigenous communities.
In his remarks, Maikalangu thanked Wike for supporting his re-election bid and expressed appreciation to residents of AMAC for renewing his mandate.
He assured them that his administration would work diligently to meet their expectations and deliver on campaign promises.
