UniAbuja Land Reduction: Wike’s Move Sparks Debate on University Autonomy and Urban Planning
In a move that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s academic and urban planning circles, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the reduction of the University of Abuja’s land allocation from 11,000 hectares to just 4,000 hectares. Citing unauthorized acquisition and chronic underutilization, the decision has ignited a fierce debate over land rights, institutional autonomy, and the future of higher education in Nigeria’s capital.
The Minister’s Rationale: Curbing Land Grabbing and Encouraging Development
Speaking during the inauguration of access roads in Abuja’s Giri District, Wike did not mince words. He accused the university of “land grabbing,” alleging that it had fenced off vast tracts without proper documentation or approval. The minister directed the FCT’s Department of Lands to reclaim and reallocate the excess land for planned urban development, framing the move as a necessary corrective measure in a city struggling with haphazard growth and land disputes.
“The university on its own grabbed 11,000 hectares—this is unacceptable,” Wike stated. “No document; nothing. You see the school fencing everywhere, and before you know it, they would go ahead to sell the land.”
University of Abuja’s Response: Surprise and Strong Opposition
The university administration, caught off guard by the announcement, was quick to push back. Dr. Habib Yakoob, the institution’s spokesperson, emphasized that the university holds valid title documents issued by previous FCT administrations. These documents, he explained, were granted with the institution’s long-term development in mind.
“The announcement has come as a surprise to the university community,” Yakoob said. “Significant developments have been ongoing across the university’s land, supported by TETFund interventions and federal government funding.”
Established in 1988, the University of Abuja was designed as a dual-mode institution, blending conventional and distance learning. With current enrollment exceeding 40,000 students and projections pointing toward 60,000 by 2030, the reduction in land—a 63.6% cut—threatens to derail planned expansions, including new faculties and agricultural research zones.
Broader Context: A Recurring Nigerian Challenge
Land disputes are not unique to the University of Abuja. A 2021 report by the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) revealed that nearly one-third of university lands nationwide face encroachment from private developers and government agencies.
In 2019, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) clashed with the Great Ife Development Board over land rights. Earlier this year, Ambrose Alli University in Edo State became embroiled in a dispute with the Emaudo community. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) also lost over 300 hectares in Samaru in 2022 due to reallocation.
These incidents highlight a systemic tension between urban expansion and institutional land rights—a tension that is particularly acute in fast-growing cities like Abuja.
Global and African Comparisons: How Much Land Does a University Really Need?
When placed in a global context, the University of Abuja’s original 11,000-hectare allocation appears exceptionally large. Africa’s top-ranked universities operate on significantly smaller footprints:
- University of Cape Town: 586 hectares
- Cairo University: 338 hectares
- University of Johannesburg: 1,032 hectares
- Makerere University: 159 hectares
- University of Nairobi: 161 hectares
Even Harvard University, with its five campuses and research forests, spans approximately 2,000 hectares. These comparisons have led some to question whether Nigerian universities have overestimated their land requirements.
Voices from Both Sides of the Debate
In Support of the Reduction
Public affairs analyst Jonathan Adejor argues that the issue isn’t the size of the land, but how it is used. “It is not the expanse of land that determines a university’s greatness,” he said, “but the vision, planning, and quality of facilities within it.”
He pointed to institutions like the University of Lagos and Covenant University, which have achieved academic excellence on much smaller campuses. Tule Gemanen, an alumnus of the University of Abuja, also supported the minister’s decision, noting that unused land had become overgrown and attracted criminal activity.
“Four thousand hectares, if well planned and developed, can serve the university for decades without compromising its growth,” Gemanen asserted.
Against the Move: Autonomy and Future-Proofing
Critics, however, see the reduction as short-sighted and potentially unlawful. The university’s alumni association has called the decision “arbitrary” and “unlawful,” emphasizing that the land was legally allocated in 1988 and is protected under the Land Use Act.
Prof. Fatimah Ahmed, an educational planning specialist at the University of Ibadan, warned that land is a long-term asset essential for research, innovation, and revenue generation. “Underutilisation is not a justification for revocation,” she argued.
Stakeholders also fear that the move could set a dangerous precedent, undermining the autonomy of public universities and limiting their ability to pursue self-sustaining projects like tech parks or commercial farms.
Looking Ahead: Negotiation and Compromise
In the coming months, the University of Abuja is expected to engage in high-level talks with the FCTA in hopes of securing a compromise. Alumni associations and civil society groups are already lobbying for a solution that preserves core parts of the university’s master plan while accommodating urban development needs.
The outcome of these negotiations will likely influence how similar disputes are handled across Nigeria. It may also determine whether the country’s universities can balance growth with sustainability—and whether urban development and educational expansion can coexist harmoniously.
One thing is clear: the conversation around land, education, and urban planning in Nigeria is only just beginning.