The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to meet with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, following the demolition of residential buildings in Abuja said to be linked to the Nigeria Police Force.
Wike made the disclosure during an inspection visit to the Apo-Dutse District on Friday, where a number of structures reportedly police duplexes were pulled down for violating development regulations.
The minister expressed dismay that the buildings had been erected beneath a high-tension power line, a location he described as a clear threat to public safety.
According to Wike, the land had originally been allocated to the police, but necessary development approvals were deliberately withheld due to safety risks.
Despite this, construction continued, prompting the Department of Development Control to intervene.
His word: “You can clearly see the danger posed by the high-tension lines overhead.
“The Police applied for building approval on this land, but it was denied because of the inherent risk. Despite that, they went ahead. No one is above the law, ” Wike said during the inspection.
He further explained that the demolition, which took place on Thursday, involved at least 11 flats of varying sizes—three and four-bedroom units.
He also described the action as a necessary step to uphold urban safety standards and protect lives, but condemned the subsequent arrest of Development Control officers by the Police.
According to him, “I find it disturbing that after acting within the law, our officers were arrested.
”That is unacceptable, and I intend to raise the issue directly with the IGP. I believe he may not yet be aware of what transpired,” Wike said.
He added that allowing such breaches to stand would set a dangerous precedent, where government institutions disregard regulatory processes and expose citizens to danger.
The incident has stirred tensions between two arms of government: the FCT Administration and the Nigeria Police Force.
While the Development Control Department maintained that it acted in line with existing regulations, the Police are yet to officially comment on the arrest of the officials or the ownership status of the demolished buildings.
Observers noted that this was not the first time enforcement activities in the FCT have pitted regulatory agencies against other government bodies or private developers.
However, Wike, who has vowed to sanitize Abuja’s urban planning process, has consistently reiterated that no institution or individual would be exempt from following due process.
“Development must follow the rule of law. It doesn’t matter who is involved—once approval is denied, construction cannot proceed,” Wike said.
Urban development in the capital has faced longstanding challenges, with illegal structures often springing up in restricted zones, including green belts, drainage channels, and high-risk utility areas.
The FCT authorities under Wike’s leadership have ramped up demolition exercises in a bid to restore order to the city’s master plan.
Meanwhile, public interest continued to grow around the fate of the demolished properties, especially as ownership disputes and safety concerns intersect.
Legal and administrative outcomes from Wike’s expected meeting with the IGP may shape the next chapter in what could become a broader institutional reckoning.
