NPHCDA Landowners Accuse Nigerian Air Force of Encroachment: ‘Our Lands, Our Rights Must Be Protected

 NPHCDA Landowners Accuse Nigerian Air Force of Encroachment: ‘Our Lands, Our Rights Must Be Protected

By Daniel Nduka Okonkwo

Impunity within the Nigerian military for serious human rights violations remains a pervasive and long-standing issue one that has been extensively documented by global watchdogs such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. These acts of abuse must no longer be tolerated. The Service Chiefs must call their men to order, and the Presidency must take immediate steps to address the matter.

The danger of such unchecked misconduct is not limited to local repercussions; the international community is watching. A few bad elements should not be allowed to tarnish Nigeria’s reputation. As a human rights advocate, I stand by the belief that our nation’s true image is one of resilience, strength, and beauty not of impunity and oppression. Nigeria must rise again.

The Nigerian Air Force should immediately return the encroached land to its rightful owners or, at the very least, compensate the subscribers adequately. This property has already been paid for. Lack of accountability has been a chronic problem in government institutions, particularly the failure to conduct independent, transparent, and impartial investigations into such cases.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right to life, liberty, and fair hearing, as well as the freedoms of expression, thought, religion, movement, and assembly, and the right to own property and live free from discrimination. Yet, for hundreds of Nigerians who subscribed to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Housing Estate in Hulumi, Idu Railway Axis of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), these fundamental rights appear to have been trampled upon.

For many subscribers, the dream of homeownership, a modest but meaningful reward for years of public service, has turned into frustration, anxiety, and loss. Their ordeal began when the Nigerian Air Force Holding Company (NAF Holdings) allegedly encroached on land duly allocated to the NPHCDA, sparking a long-running conflict now marked by reports of threats, arrests, and destruction of property.

According to the leader of the affected group, Omolara Babalola, the estate (Phases 1 and 2) was granted to the NPHCDA by the then Honourable Minister of the FCT. The 13.5-hectare property was lawfully allotted to NPHCDA staff and families who fully paid for their subscriptions and development levies.

Fifteen years ago, these subscribers were hopeful young Nigerians eager to build homes for their families. Today, many of them are nearing retirement, their lifelong dreams shattered by lawlessness and military impunity.

This is what countless Nigerians face daily because those in uniform often act as though they are above the law, drawing parallels to a recent incident in which FCT Minister Nyesom Wike was reportedly denied access to a property belonging to a retired naval chief. “If the Minister himself, with all his security details, can be denied access, what chance does a civilian have?”

Minister Wike has since addressed the confrontation, asserting that he acted within his official duty to protect public property and emphasizing that no one is above the law not even former military officers.

Omolara recalled how, in 2023, the Nigerian Air Force encroached upon part of the NPHCDA estate land, questioning what legal authority the Air Force had to occupy property already allocated to a federal agency and paid for by civilian subscribers.

It is not enough to be Nigerian by citizenship if the government cannot defend your fundamental rights.

In a petition to the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), NPHCDA staff and subscribers alleged active and imminent threats to their lives and property by NAF Holdings and its agents. The petition also accused the Air Force company of blatant disregard for court orders, ministerial directives, and due process.

NPHCDA was granted 13.5 hectares of land at Hulumi Village, Idu, Abuja, by the then Honourable Minister of the FCT.

This land was allotted to staff and families who had fully paid all fees and levies.

NAF Holdings encroached upon the property, prompting NPHCDA to petition relevant authorities, including the DSS.

A court injunction was obtained to restrain NAF Holdings from further development on the land.

Despite the injunction, NAF Holdings allegedly continued construction, blocking NPHCDA access a “gross abuse of power.”

The Minister of Health subsequently appealed to the Minister of the FCT to grant NPHCDA unhindered access to Phase 2.

The FCT Minister directed the Development Control Department to organize a meeting between both parties; NAF Holdings allegedly failed to attend.

Following this, the Director of Development Control authorized NPHCDA to begin fencing and protective works.

Shortly after, fences and structures were demolished by unidentified persons suspected to be acting for NAF Holdings.

Armed individuals later invaded the site, arresting workers and seizing building materials and equipment worth millions of naira.

According to NPHCDA records, losses during Phase 1 development already exceed ₦70 million.

The petition further named several individuals allegedly linked to NAF Holdings, Mr. Alhaji Bomo, Mr. Abdullahi, and Mr. Samuel Zamani, accusing them of land racketeering, threats to life, and destruction of property.

The petitioners urged the DSS to:

Investigate and prosecute all those involved.

Compel NAF Holdings to cease all encroachment activities.

Ensure the safety of NPHCDA workers, subscribers, and residents.

Secure and protect materials and property on site.

Obtain a written undertaking from NAF Holdings and its representatives to desist from any further disruptive actions.

Petitions have reportedly been submitted to multiple authorities, including:

The Presidency

The Inspector General of Police

The Honourable Minister of the FCT

The Attorney General of the Federation

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development

The Senate President

The Speaker, House of Representatives

The Chief of Defence Staff

The Chief of the Air Staff

Yet, despite these efforts, subscribers say no concrete action has been taken to resolve what they describe as a “grave injustice against law-abiding citizens.”

Led by Omolara Babalola, the group has appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to intervene and uphold justice.

> “We call on the President, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Minister of the FCT, and the general public to prevail upon the Nigerian Air Force and their collaborators to vacate our land and allow peace to reign,” Omolara said.

The NPHCDA subscribers’ struggle raises a larger question about the sanctity of property rights and equality before the law. If a government agency, backed by valid allocations and court orders, can be dispossessed without consequence, what protection remains for ordinary citizens?

As the petitioners await government response, this case stands as a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to justice, fairness, and the protection of fundamental human rights the very principles upon which the nation’s democracy rests.

Daniel Nduka Okonkwo is a seasoned writer, human rights advocate, and public affairs analyst, widely recognized for his incisive commentary on governance, justice, and social equity. Through his platform, Profiles International Human Rights Advocate, he has illuminated key social and political issues in Nigeria and beyond, championing accountability, transparency, and reform.

With over 1,000 published articles (available on Google), Okonkwo’s works have appeared in prominent outlets such as Sahara Reporters and other leading media platforms. Beyond journalism, he is also an accomplished transcriptionist, petition writer, and ghostwriter known for his precision and persuasive advocacy in advancing truth, integrity, and human rights.

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