Prof. Lar Patricia Manko, Acting Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), has responded to the land-grabbing allegation made by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, against the institution.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Manko stated that the 11,000 hectares of land in question is a legacy asset granted to the university by the Federal Government.
While recognizing Wike’s position as FCT Minister, she emphasized that university land is never excessive, noting that the institution has numerous plans and purposes for its use.
Recall that at the inauguration of access road to Giri district in FCT on June 30, Wike had alleged that the university “grabbed” 11,000 hectares of land.
“No document, nothing. That’s all you see there, fencing everywhere. And before you know it, they were going to sell our land.
“So, I’ve told the Director of Lands and the other relevant agencies to carve out 4,000 hectares and give it to the university.
“They are the ones who are going to protect it because we are going to provide the roads here.
“And that’s the situation. We cannot allow it at all,” the minister had said.
Manko, however, said that the 11,000 hectares of land was legitimately given to the institution by the Federal Government and the controversy is already being handled.
She said the university has plans for the use of the expanse of land ranging from agriculture, tourism, research centres, quarters for members of staff and student hostels, among others.
The acting VC said due to lack of funds to finance some of the projects, the institution has entered into some Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) for the development.
She noted that the current staff quarters of the institution are temporarily built on plots of land given to the university by the military and there are plans to construct permanent structures at the institution’s permanent site.
According to her, there are many investors who are partnering with the institution in the development of the projects on the 11,000 hectares of land.
