A Professional Examination of Public Land Acquisition for Urban Renewal Projects: Legal Issues in Abuja Under the Federal Capital Territory Administration

Urban renewal and infrastructure development in Abuja, Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory, has been accompanied by extensive land acquisition, community displacement, and demolition exercises under the authority of the Federal Capital Territory Administration. These exercises, often conducted under the Land Use Act 1978 and the Abuja Master Plan Revisions, have generated considerable public law controversy regarding due process, compensation adequacy, and the legal rights of affected communities. This study professionally examines the legal framework governing public land acquisition for urban renewal in Abuja, evaluating the FCTA's powers under the Land Use Act, constitutional property protection under Section 44, and the adequacy of compensation and resettlement frameworks. A doctrinal methodology is applied, reviewing the Land Use Act 1978, the Abuja Urban and Regional Planning Act, FCTA demolition notices and policy documents, court decisions on Abuja displacement claims from 2015 to 2023, and comparative analysis from Singapore's compulsory acquisition frameworks. The study evaluates whether FCTA demolition exercises comply with procedural due process requirements and statutory compensation obligations. Available urban land law literature from Nigeria identifies the absence of prior notice, non-payment of compensation, and absence of judicial oversight of demolition orders as the most professionally significant legal concerns in Abuja urban renewal. The Property Rights Framework and the UN Basic Principles on Development-Induced Displacement provide the normative reference. Recommendations address mandatory judicial authorisation of large-scale demolitions and independent land valuation commissions. Keywords: land acquisition, urban renewal, Abuja, FCTA, property rights.