A long-running dispute over one of Abuja's biggest real estate developments has moved beyond Nigeria's borders, with Ghanaian businessman Sir Sam Jonah's company taking the Nigerian government to international arbitration in Paris.
At the centre of the dispute is River Park Estate, a 501-hectare mixed-use development in Lugbe, Abuja, designed to deliver more than 11,000 housing units for about 42,000 residents, alongside shopping centres, office complexes, healthcare facilities, places of worship and other supporting infrastructure.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, confirmed that the developers have commenced arbitration proceedings against the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
"The other party has gone to arbitration, and we said okay, let them conclude the arbitration process," Wike said.
According to Wike, the FCDA signed a Development Lease Agreement (DLA) with JonahCapital Nigeria Limited, the company behind the project. He argued that the agreement had expired, prompting the authority to repossess the land. He also maintained that the FCDA had no contractual relationship with Paulo Homes Limited, which he said was later introduced into the project.
