Abuja Centenary City: Court restrains FCT Minister, FCDA, NEPZA, Arab Contractors

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an interim order restraining further encroachment of the Centenary City in Abuja

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the $18.5billion project in June 2014.

The court gave a temporary injunction in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/2130/2022 filed by Centenary Economic City Free Zone and Centenary City Free Zone Company.

The defendants are the President, Attorney General (AGF), Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Others include the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), and Arab Contractors.

Justice I. E. Ekwo barred them “from committing further acts of encroachment, incursion and continuing to deface and destroy the master plan of Centenary Economic City Free Zone”.

Ekwo told them to stay action on 1,262.27 hectares at Wawa District, Cadastral Zone E24, designated as Centenary Free Zone by the President in September 2014 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The judge granted an Order of Maintenance of Status Quo Ante Bellum on all parties in the suit to halt taking step(s) in relation to the subject matter.

In November 2016, the AGF’s office advised the FCDA that upon the grant of Free Trade Zone Status to the Centenary City, the President, pursuant to section 1 of the Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority Act, No 63 of 1992, approved the project.