Udume Ukwe

Since yesterday, a video showing a heated exchange between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and a military officer over a parcel of land in Gaduwa, Abuja has circulated widely. The confrontation involved soldiers and FCTA officials, each asserting authority over the site. Reports indicate that the land is associated with a former Chief of Naval Staff, while FCTA representatives maintain they were on-site to execute a demolition order against an “illegal” structure.

Forget the drama for a moment. Look at the picture:

•⁠ ⁠ Uniformed men
•⁠ ⁠ A sitting minister
•⁠ ⁠ Allegations of land grabbing
•⁠ ⁠ Conflicting “documents” on the same plot

If people at that level can stand on one piece of land and argue who truly owns it, what do you think happens to the average buyer who just wants a quiet life?

This is why, in 2025, I don’t joke with land story again. Before I recommend anything, I ask three simple questions:

1. Who actually allocated this land, and when?

2. Can we trace the title and approvals from government file to site, without “just believe me” gaps?

3. Is there any sign that powerful people are already fighting over this axis?

If your answer is shaky on those three, you are not buying property, you are buying potential headache.

That is one reason I keep leaning toward properly planned districts when I talk about long-term holds, places like G.R.A, Stadium Road,D/Line, Odili road, NAF Harmony Estate, Golf Estate and Cribz Apartments Nig. where the land was assembled and reclaimed through a formal process, with a clear master plan and documented use, not just “family land” and vibes. Projects like Garden City Estate site just along the Airport road here in Portharcourt - Rivers State 🇳🇬 inside that structure: titled, planned, and easier to explain to any lawyer, banker or future buyer.

You can’t control who shouts on TV tomorrow. But you can control whether your own property story is straight or scattered.

Be Truthful: After watching that Wike vs soldiers video, what scares you more as a property buyer? That the government could suddenly show up and tag your building “illegal”? Or that someone more powerful might appear later and claim the same land?
Either way, how are you protecting yourself from such risks?