Foreign and indigenous investors under the umbrella of the Abuja Technology Village Free Trade Zone have taken the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged unlawful revocation of land earmarked for their operations.
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The dispute revolves around the Abuja Free Trade Zone, established by a Presidential Order and gazetted as a strategic economic hub for technology and innovation. The investors argue that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has no legal authority to revoke land within the zone without the consent of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA).
In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1539/2025, filed by M.J Numa & Partners LLP, the plaintiffs are asking the court to quash the minister’s decision, which they say contravenes the provisions of the Constitution and the NEPZA Act.
According to the investors, the revocation notice, contained in a letter dated 13th May 2025, cited non-payment of ground rent and underdevelopment as reasons. They insist these grounds are invalid, as Section 8 of the NEPZA Act expressly exempts operators within the zone from such levies.
They further contend that the action of the FCTA, led by the minister, undermines the executive authority of the President and contradicts federal legislation regulating free zones. “The Minister of FCT and the FCTA acted ultra vires and unconstitutionally by revoking our land rights and reallocating them to a third party without proper authority or NEPZA’s consent,” the suit states.
The investors warn that the decision is endangering over ₦978 billion in direct and domestic investment already committed to the zone. They highlight that the Abuja Technology Village hosts 29 licensed enterprises and serves as the site for a flagship electric vehicle and renewable energy manufacturing project in collaboration with three foreign nations.
“The revocation threatens this multi-stakeholder, multi-billion-naira project and undermines the President’s direct efforts to woo foreign investors under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” they said.
As part of their prayers before the court, the investors are seeking an order to set aside the revocation and reallocation notices, a perpetual injunction restraining the FCTA from further interference, and a directive compelling NEPZA and other federal authorities to protect their operations.
Describing the Abuja Free Trade Zone as “a national economic asset and a symbol of Nigeria’s commitment to becoming an innovation-driven economy”, the group stressed that safeguarding its legal status is essential for sustaining investor confidence across all free zones in the country.
