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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced plans by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to revoke approvals granted to a developer who illegally transformed a designated Park and Recreation area in Guzape, Abuja, into a residential estate.

Wike stated that the action followed the discovery of the violation during an inspection tour of ongoing projects across the territory on Monday, March 26, 2026.

He stressed that the administration would strictly enforce planning regulations and ensure that Abuja’s master plan is not compromised.

Wike stated that the action followed the discovery of the violation during an inspection tour of ongoing projects across the territory on Monday the 16th of March, 2026.

He stressed that the administration would strictly enforce planning regulations and ensure that Abuja’s master plan is not compromised.

He explained that the illegal structures had already been marked for demolition, warning that the government would not tolerate deliberate violations of land-use approvals.

He added that, “This place was given for Park and Recreation, not for the development of an estate. But from what you have seen, they are developing it into an estate, which is a clear violation. We will not allow that. ”

Wike noted that the administration will also withdraw any approval previously granted to the developer, stressing that government would enforce planning regulations regardless of those involved.

He lamented that many developers deliberately flout planning laws because they believe government officials would eventually leave office, allowing them to regularize illegal developments.

According to Wike, “People think government will come and go and they will continue what they are doing. We will not allow that here. It does not matter who is involved; we will do the right thing.”

The Minister who made referenced to a recent demolished illegal structures built on land allocated to foreign embassies in Katampe district, he hinted that the administration had written to the affected diplomatic missions to reclaim and develop their properties.

He stressed that, some developers has taken the advantage of bureaucratic loopholes and sometimes collaborate with insiders within government agencies to obtain approvals for illegal projects.

“An armed robber cannot operate without someone linking him. There must be collaborators somewhere. In some cases, civil servants may be involved, but that will not stop us from doing what is right,” he said.

Wike explained that funds are already budgeted for development control activities, including the demolition of illegal structures across the capital city.

Despite the enforcement actions, the minister said the primary purpose of the inspection tour was to assess progress on several major road projects expected to be inaugurated during the third anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said one of the projects inspected was the road network linking the Renewed Hope City in Karsana to Kubwa, which is being handled by Lubrik Construction.

According to him, the contractor has made significant progress and the project is expected to be ready for inauguration.

Wike also inspected the Arteria N16 interchange project from Ring road 2 to Ring road 3 linking Jahi and Gwarimpa, describing the quality of work as impressive and expressing confidence that the project would be completed by the end of May.

The minister further visited the Airport Road–Kuje highway being constructed by Arab Contractors, where the final beam of a major bridge along the corridor is currently being installed.

He said the project would significantly improve connectivity between Abuja city and Kuje Area Council, enabling residents to commute easily.

“If that road is completed, people will not need to stay in the city. You can live in Kuje, come to work in Abuja and return comfortably,” Wike said.

The minister also inspected the ongoing 13 kilometers road project linking Kuje area council to Gwagwalada, being executed by Gilmore Construction company.

He explained that the 13-kilometre road had been divided into two segments of about 6.5 kilometres each, with the contractor promising to deliver the first segment soon while work continues on the second phase.

According to Wike, road construction remains central to the administration’s broader transportation strategy for the Federal Capital Territory.

“You cannot have a good transport system without connectivity and a strong road network. When there is good road infrastructure, transport becomes easy and efficient,” he said.

The minister reiterated that the administration would continue to enforce planning regulations while delivering infrastructure that improves mobility and opens up communities across the Federal Capital Territory.

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The Nigerian Railway Corporation has confirmed that several passengers were injured following a train incident near Asham Train Station on the Abuja-Kaduna line on Monday morning.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, Kayode Opeifa, in a statement, said the incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. and involved a rear locomotive making contact with the passenger coach immediately behind it due to a coupling issue.

Opeifa confirmed that the injured passengers were promptly attended to and transported to nearby medical facilities for proper care. He added that no fatalities were recorded.

The NRC MD also disclosed that emergency response protocols were immediately activated, and relevant technical teams were mobilized to the site.

According to him, Safety Investigation Bureau is also on site to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, in line with established safety procedures.

The statement added that train later arrived at Idu Train Station at approximately 10:39 a.m., 38 minutes behind schedule, after time was allowed to remove the affected locomotive and coach.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation assured the public that safety remains its top priority and that all necessary measures are being taken to address the situation and ensure the continued safe operation of train services.

It stated that further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

The Nigerian rail system has experienced frequent derailments, particularly along the Abuja-Kaduna route, prompting the Senate to launch a nationwide probe into rail failures in 2025.

In November 2025, the Senate resolved to establish an ad hoc committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the persistent derailments of the country’s rail lines.

The probe, which will include a public hearing, aims to uncover the root causes of recurring derailments and assess the condition of rail infrastructure, as well as the imported materials used in the sector.

According to the resolution, the ad hoc committee, to be chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, will also investigate loans received from China.

The committee was given six weeks to complete its findings and present a detailed report to the Senate.

Additionally, lawmakers directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation to immediately address the technical faults responsible for recent derailments and ensure that the nation’s rail system is restored to full operational capacity.

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Five foreign nationals from Burkina Faso have been abducted by suspected armed bandits while working at a gold mining site near Arafa village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The abduction reportedly occurred around 11:15 a.m. on March 14 when a large group of bandits, believed to have been hiding between Arafa and Gidan Dankande villages, invaded the mining site and forcefully took the workers to an unknown destination.

Sources told Zagazola Makama that the heavily armed assailants fled into the surrounding bush shortly after carrying out the attack. By the time security operatives from a nearby Operation FANSAN YAMMA base arrived at the scene, the attackers had already escaped.

According to the sources, efforts are ongoing to locate the bandits and secure the safe release of the abducted foreigners, with security personnel currently combing the area for intelligence that could lead to their rescue.
The incident once again highlights the dangerous link between illegal mining activities and armed banditry in Zamfara State. Over the years, the North West’s rich deposits of minerals such as gold, copper and lithium have attracted both legitimate investors and criminal networks that exploit the resources for illicit gains.

Local sources say many bandit leaders in the region collect weekly royalties from miners, a system that has strengthened their control over several mining sites. Mining operations allegedly linked to influential or politically connected individuals are often left undisturbed, while ordinary miners face extortion, intimidation and repeated attacks.
These payments serve as more than protection fees; they provide crucial funding for criminal operations, including the purchase of weapons, logistics for kidnappings and the recruitment of more fighters.

The latest abduction of the five foreign nationals is seen as another reflection of this criminal economy.

In 2019, the federal government banned gold mining in Zamfara in an effort to curb illegal mining and rising insecurity. Two years later, authorities also introduced a no-fly zone to stop the smuggling of minerals and weapons. However, the measures failed to reduce violence, as deaths linked to insecurity in the state reportedly increased by 183 percent in the four years following the ban.

The ban also had unintended consequences. Thousands of miners who had already been displaced from their farmlands due to insecurity were forced to operate under the control of armed groups. Profits from these illegal mining activities further financed attacks, kidnappings and cross-border recruitment of bandits.