By Sarah NEGEDU
The House of Representatives has asked the Nigerian Navy to halt all attempts to evict residents of five communities in the Federal Capital Territory, pending the conclusion of an ongoing petition before the National Assembly.
The directive, issued on 13 November 2025, came from the Chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, Hon. Kwamoti Laori Bitrus, during a hearing on a petition filed by the Public Complaints Commission, PCC, FCT Office.
The petition, presented by the Honourable Federal Commissioner of the PCC, Hon. Musa Dikko, alleged that residents of Tunga-Giwa, Tunga-Wakili, Tunga-Madaki, Iddo Sarki and Nuwalege were being threatened with eviction and had allegedly been told to vacate their homes by December 2025.
According to the PCC, the communities accused officers of the Nigerian Navy of criminal trespass, intimidation, unlawful seizure of farmlands, demolition of structures and extortion.
They alleged that the acts were carried out without formal notice, compensation or adherence to the Land Use Act.
The Commission said the reported actions had inflicted hardship and insecurity on residents, many of whom rely on farming and have lived in the area long before the FCT was created in 1976.
Dikko acknowledged that government agencies possess statutory powers to acquire land for public interest, but stressed that such powers must be exercised with corresponding obligations, including compensation, resettlement and proper community engagement.
He urged the National Assembly to investigate the allegations, ensure compliance with FCT land policies and protect the rights and livelihoods of the affected residents.
Hon. Laori Bitrus commended the PCC for intervening, describing the petition as crucial to safeguarding citizens and upholding the rule of law.
At the first hearing, the Nigerian Navy, represented by Lt. Esla Angbashim, requested time to study the petition, prompting the Committee to adjourn the matter to 9 December 2025.
On 9 December, the PCC Commissioner and management staff were present at the National Assembly, but the hearing was shifted to 27 January 2026.
During the sitting on 27 January 2026, the PCC appeared for continuation of the matter, but the committee again adjourned proceedings, this time to 4 March 2026, after the Nigerian Navy failed to appear, instead sending a letter requesting a new date.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Mathew Nwogu, cautioned that decisive action would be taken if the Navy fails to honour the next hearing.
