19/08/2026
House of Reps Summons FCT Director of Lands Over Disputed Land Between Navy and FCT Communities
By Oluwatosin Oyinlusi
Tuesday, 18th August, 2026
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has directed the Director of Lands, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), to appear before it with relevant land allocation documents concerning an ongoing dispute involving the Nigerian Navy and communities in Tunga Maji, Tunga Madaki, Iddo Sarki and other affected settlements.
The directive followed a reconciliation meeting involving the Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), FCT, Hon. Musa Dikko; the Director of Resettlement and Compensation, Mr. Nasir Sulaiman; and the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Kwamoti Bitrus Laori, at the Chairman’s office.
The meeting focused on concerns raised by the affected communities through the Public Complaints Commission over the occupation and control of the disputed area by the Nigerian Navy.
Presenting an overview of the matter, Hon. Musa Dikko said the affected communities, through his Commission, are seeking clarification and a peaceful resolution, particularly in view of what they described as the forceful possession and occupation of the area by the Nigerian Navy.
Providing further insight, the Director of Resettlement and Compensation, Mr. Nasir Sulaiman, explained that the communities currently before the Committee were not the only settlements potentially affected by the development.
Sulaiman disclosed that approximately 12,000 hectares of land had reportedly been allocated to the Nigerian Aviation Authority, while concerns had emerged over the reported possession of the land by the Armed Forces despite the absence of any known allocation.
He stressed the need to obtain official land records and allocation documents to establish the status and ownership of the disputed areas.
According to him, the Director of Lands, FCT, is the appropriate authority to provide the necessary clarification, given his access to official land records and allocation documents.
He also revealed that several settlements, including Apo and Shardi, were among communities potentially affected by the development.
Sulaiman further disclosed that approximately 12,000 hectares of land had reportedly been allocated to the Nigerian Aviation Authority, while concerns had also emerged regarding the reported occupation of the land by the Armed Forces in the absence of clear documentation of allocation.
He emphasized the need to obtain official land records and allocation documents to establish the status and ownership of the disputed areas.
According to him, the Director of Lands, FCT, is the appropriate authority to provide the required clarification, given his custody of official land records and allocation documentation.
He further noted that several settlements, including Apo and Shardi, were among communities potentially affected by the development.
Responding to the presentation, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Kwamoti Bitrus Laori, expressed concern over the situation, describing it as troubling and underscored the importance of transparency and proper documentation in resolving the dispute.
Laori observed that the actions attributed to the Nigerian Navy, as presented before the Committee, appeared to require further justification and clarification.
He consequently directed the Director of Lands to appear before the Committee with relevant documents establishing the allocation and ownership of the land reportedly allocated to the Nigerian Aviation Authority.
The Chairman said the documents would assist the Committee in determining the appropriate course of action and, where necessary, taking steps to prevent further developments on the disputed land pending the resolution of the matter.
The Chairman stated that the documents would assist the Committee in determining the appropriate course of action and, where necessary, taking steps to prevent further developments on the disputed land pending the resolution of the matter.
The Committee subsequently adjourned the matter to 3 September 2026 at 10:00 a.m., when the Director of Lands is expected to appear with the relevant allocation documents.
The development represents a significant step toward addressing the concerns of the affected communities, as relevant authorities are now expected to provide documentary evidence that could clarify the ownership, allocation, and status of the disputed land.
The Public Complaints Commission, through the intervention of its FCT Commissioner, Hon. Musa Dikko, continues to pursue clarification and an equitable resolution of the concerns raised by the affected communities.
