In a significant move addressing historical grievances, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has pledged to ensure indigenous populations receive Certificates of Occupancy for their ancestral lands. This commitment, announced at the Nigeria-German Economic Forum in Dortmund, Germany, aims to resolve land ownership disputes that have persisted since Abuja's establishment as Nigeria's capital.
The announcement was delivered by Steel Development Minister Prince Shuaibu Abubakar during his keynote address on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Minister Wike's personal assurance—'I know how land is. I will make sure I do everything possible for you to be having Cs of O too'—underscores the political importance of this promise to communities who have long sought formal recognition of their land rights.
The economic forum served as a platform for multiple government announcements, highlighting Nigeria's dual focus on domestic policy and international engagement. Alongside the land certificate pledge, officials presented Nigeria as a prime investment destination, revealing a domestic market for $10 billion in annual steel utilization. This pitch leverages Nigeria's abundant reserves of steel inputs and energy-transition minerals to attract German and international industrial investment.
Simultaneously, on the domestic security front, the Nigerian Army chief unveiled new locally manufactured combat vehicles, demonstrating progress in military self-reliance and capacity building. These parallel developments across policy, economic, and security sectors suggest a coordinated government strategy addressing both internal governance and external economic relations.
The land certificate promise represents a potential turning point for FCT indigenous communities, whose ancestral land rights have been a contentious issue for decades. As the government pursues international investment and domestic security improvements, this commitment to resolving historical land disputes could foster greater social stability and community trust in the FCT administration.
