Prof. Lar Patricia Manko, acting Vice Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University (Former University of Abuja), has reacted to the allegation of land grabbing against the institution by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
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In an interview with newsmen in Abuja, Manko said the 11,000 hectares of land is a legacy asset given to the institution by the Federal Government.
While acknowledging Wike as FCT landlord, the VC said University land can never be too much and the institution has plethora of use for the property.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that, at the inauguration of access road to Giri district in FCT on June 30, Wike 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 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 fund 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.
The acting VC said there are many investors who are partnering with the institution in the development of the projects on the 11,000 hectares of land.
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