From Joseph Asegba, Yola
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ali Ali who condemned this unlawful encroachment on NAN Yola office premises by suspected land grabbers.
The MD expressed his displeasure during an on-the-spot assessment of the property alongside members of the agency’s management team on Tuesday in Yola.
He described the action as an aberration and affront to the sanctity of a Federal Government property, stressing that NAN lawfully acquired the land over two decades ago.
According to him, the land was allocated to NAN by a former governor of Adamawa, with a Certificate of Occupancy.
He noted that the agency had since constructed its office on the site and had continually been operational since then.
He explained that the current dispute began on June 30, 2025, following a report received from the NAN State Correspondent in Yola.
” An individual presented a letter issued by the Implementation Committee on the White Paper of the Commission of Inquiry into the Alienation of Federal Government Landed Property.
“The letter, which was unsigned and dated Dec. 2019, allegedly claimed that the property had been sold to a company called Royal Stone Global Investment Nigeria Ltd.
“It was accompanied by an acceptance form purportedly signed by one Umar Iya of No. 10 Hospital Road, Jimeta-Yola, and dated March 11, 2020,” he said.
Ali said NAN staff in Yola denied the individual access to the premises and directed them to obtain proper clearance from the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
“However, no such contact was made, instead, the individuals returned and forcefully entered the premises and began construction work.
He added that, they also broke the perimeter fence despite a restraining order issued by a competent court”.
The NAN boss emphasised the agency’s commitment to due process, stating that NAN, as a law-abiding institution, would pursue all legal avenues to reclaim the property.
He said an official complaint has been lodged with the Commissioner of Police in Adamawa, and the State Commissioner for Information had been formally briefed on the development.
“We have also approached the court again to restrain the intruders from continuing with the construction while following up on the legal process,” Ali said.
