The House of Representatives Public Petitions Committee has summoned the Nigerian Army authorities and the Director of Lands at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the spate of demolitions of lands said to be owned by indigenes.
SaharaReporters learnt that the development occurred during a hearing on the demolition exercises in Tungamaje last week Tuesday by the House of Representatives Public Petitions Committee.
“During the hearing, it was agreed that the military authorities consisting of not just the Nigerian Army but also other forces like Navy need to be invited for a meeting with the House of Representatives,” a source told SaharaReporters.
It was further gathered that the decision was necessitated by the fact that demolitions by different military institutions were taking place not just in Tungamaje but also in places such as Iddo and other areas in the FCT.
“Lands said to be owned by indigenous persons are being demolished by the military in different locations across the Federal Capital Territory, so there was an agreement to invite them to a meeting for September 3, 2026. It was also agreed that the Director of Lands at the Federal Capital Territory should be invited to really understand the state of lands in the FCT.”
It was also gathered that the summon notices have been sent to the affected military authorities and the office of the Director of Land in the Federal Capital Territory Authority.
The development comes amid controversy over demolitions of homes in the FCT, with affected residents lamenting victimisation and threats by Nigerian military authorities.
SaharaReporters reported that on Thursday, August 20, 2026, carried out fresh demolitions in Tungamaje amid threats issued to residents.
Previously, SaharaReporters reported that residents of Angwa Dio and Angwa Shibaba areas of Tungamaje, Abuja, were ordered to vacate their homes by Wednesday, August 12, 2026, following a directive reportedly issued by the Nigerian Army.
The Army also marked several houses in the communities for demolition, with residents saying they had been given until Wednesday, August 12, 2026, to leave the affected areas.
The residents were initially asked to vacate their homes by Saturday, August 8, 2026, but an intervention by stakeholders resulted in a five-day extension.
A community source told SaharaReporters that more than 30 houses had been earmarked for demolition across the two communities, while residents had been asked to vacate the areas entirely.
“The Nigerian Army has now taken unprecedented steps. They gave quit notice to people asking them to leave and when community members pleaded,they were told the order was from above and nothing could be done about it,” the community source told SaharaReporters.
It was gathered that, as of the time of filing this report, many homeowners in the area were stranded and uncertain about where they would relocate if the demolition proceeded.
“Many of those who have been asked to leave the communities are not even sure of where to go, already there is panic as the Nigerian Army have vowed to come heavily to ensure demolition of the houses after the expiration of the grace period given,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
The latest development represents an escalation of a long-running dispute between residents of Tungamaje and personnel of the Nigerian Army over land ownership and access to farmlands in the area.
