A plot of land in Utako District originally designated as a memorial for victims of a 2008 building collapse has been converted into a shopping mall, sparking controversy over FCT land administration.
The site on P.O.W. Mafemi Crescent, Plot 230, Cadastral Zone B05, was meant to honor construction workers and hawkers who died in the tragedy. Former FCT Minister Aliyu Modibbo Umar revoked the original allocation due to building regulation violations.
Julius Berger Nigeria Plc is now developing the property for Hyper City Retail Limited, a Port Harcourt-based supermarket chain, after the land underwent multiple revocations and reallocations through the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS).
The conversion has drawn criticism from victims’ families and civil society groups who argue it dishonors the memory of those who died.
Urban planning experts are calling for investigation into the reallocation process, citing transparency concerns in FCT land administration. The FCT Administration has not issued an official statement on the controversy.
