The Nigerian Senate has declined a legislative push to pause land revocations and reallocations within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), citing procedural inconsistencies.
The motion, which sought to halt actions by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, was withdrawn on Wednesday, the 17th of December, 2025, after a majority of lawmakers ruled that it did not meet the criteria for “urgent national importance.”
The motion was introduced by Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the FCT, under Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders. These rules allow for the presentation of pressing matters without prior notice, provided they receive the Senate President’s consent.
Senator Kingibe’s proposal was multifaceted, addressing not only land disputes but also a burgeoning environmental crisis in the nation’s capital. Key issues raised included: Environmental Decay: A reported collapse of waste management and sewage services across Abuja, with refuse accumulating for months due to nine months of unpaid wages for contractors and workers.
Contractual Disparity: Claims that the FCT administration awarded new waste management contracts while owing debts to previous contractors between March and October 2025.
Legal & Institutional Disputes: Alleged unlawful takeovers of land belonging to Bwari General Hospital and the University of Abuja, which Kingibe argued violated the FCT Act of 1976 and the Land Use Act of 1978.
Master Plan Violations: Concerns over the destruction of designated “green areas” and continued demolitions despite active court proceedings.
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During the plenary session, the Senate leadership expressed strong reservations about the motion’s structure. Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that while he had discussed waste management with Kingibe, the final motion included a broader range of administrative grievances that had not been cleared as urgent.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin rose in defense of the FCT Minister’s performance, stating:“There are now developments in the FCT. The current minister changed the face of Abuja. He’s doing extremely very well. You cannot solve all problems at the same time. If there are other areas that needed to be done, we should engage our committee to interact with the minister so that he could do more,” he said.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, supported the view that the motion lacked the necessary focus for an “urgent” classification, suggesting it be resubmitted with proper notice. Under pressure from her colleagues, Senator Kingibe ultimately agreed to step back, declaring:
“I will re-present it as a substantive motion on waste management,” she said.