The eleven host communities of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) — Avu, Obinze, Umuanunu, Umuoma, Ihiagwa Ancient Kingdom, Dindi Ihiagwa, Eziobodo, Eziokele, Okolochi, Emeabiam and Obibi Ezena — have jointly called on the university to obey a Federal Government directive and return 2,200.999 hectares of land to them.
According to their attorney, Chief Sam Anokam, this appeal follows “years of deliberations, negotiations, and legal disputes” between the parties. He stressed that the land is urgently needed to house the communities’ rapidly growing populations.
The Legal Mandate: Federal Directive Versus University Resistance
Chief Anokam revealed that FUTO currently controls 4,455.768 hectares of land (as delineated in 1986 under “Imo State of Nigeria Plan No. OWR (M) 321, Tracing No. (CARTO) IM 720 from Pillar MB 10967”), with over 2,000 hectares lying unused. He said the communities are in possession of an official letter from the Federal Government’s inter-ministerial committee; comprising the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development directing FUTO to excise the land.
However, Anokam accused the university of deploying security operatives to block access to the land despite the directive. “It is preposterous for FUTO authorities to challenge the superior authority of the Federal Government through advertorials in print and social media,” he declared. “This is an act of flagrant disobedience driven by conflict of interest. The reasons advanced to reject the decision of the inter-ministerial committee are baseless.”
Citing Section 51(2) of the Land Use Act, he maintained that the Federal Minister of Housing and Urban Development is legally empowered to manage federal properties on behalf of the President. He insisted that the host communities would stand by the letter offering them 2,200.999 hectares “in lieu of monetary compensation” and take steps to reclaim their ancestral lands.
FUTO Responds: Waiting for a Presidential Order
In its defence, FUTO’s Registrar, Chiedozie Uba, said the institution would rely on Section 19 of the Federal Universities of Technology Act and would only act upon direct communication from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This standoff highlights a broader tension across Nigeria between federal institutions and their host communities. Legal experts note that while the Land Use Act gives the federal government sweeping control over land, universities created by statute also enjoy significant autonomy. Until the Presidency itself intervenes or a court gives a definitive ruling; the fate of the 2,200 hectares remains uncertain.
Why This Matters
Land disputes between federal institutions and their host communities are nothing new in Nigeria. History shows that when such conflicts fester, they often end in lengthy court battles, protests and a breakdown of the “town-and-gown” relationships on which universities depend. For FUTO; a science-and-technology flagship established in 1980; the goodwill of surrounding communities is not a luxury but a prerequisite for smooth expansion, campus security and student welfare.
For the 11 communities, however, this is far more than a real-estate dispute. It is about heritage, continuity and dignity. As Chief Sam Anokam observed, returning the land is not merely compensation; it is the restoration of ancestral identity.
It is also a question of fairness and practicality. Land is finite; populations grow. The people of Avu, Obinze, Umuanunu, Umuoma, Ihiagwa Ancient Kingdom, Dindi Ihiagwa, Eziobodo, Eziokele, Okolochi, Emeabiam and Obibi Ezena are far more numerous today than in 1980, when FUTO was founded. If a sizeable portion of the university’s holdings have remained undeveloped for decades, can it truly be unreasonable for the host communities to press for their return?