Amid the recent Abuja flood, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has ordered the immediate demolition of structures built on designated water channels across Abuja.
Wike issued the directive on Tuesday following an inspection tour of flood–ravaged areas in Maitama and other parts of the nation’s capital.
He stressed that the demolition exercise will commence immediately and continue through Saturday, asserting that political considerations or the social standing of property owners will not halt the enforcement.
The minister noted that several buildings were illegally erected along natural waterways designated for stormwater runoff in the original Abuja Master Plan.
Wike said, “We will pull down every house built on the water channels, regardless of who owns them. Some of the affected properties belong to senators and other influential people, but the law will apply to everyone.”
Wike emphasized that adhering to the law and acting ethically prevents harm, asserting that the enforcement action will proceed without disruption.
He noted that the recent flooding underscores the combined impact of intense rainfall, climate change, and human activity on the capital’s flood vulnerability.
The minister added that inspections of the affected areas revealed that property owners had built over designated water-flow channels originally mapped out in the Abuja Master Plan.
Additionally, Wike pointed out that many of the impacted structures had been there for a number of years and belonged to wealthy Nigerians.
He declared that the government would no longer let anyone to evade enforcement of planning restrictions due to their riches or influence.
Despite worries that the demolition project would draw political backlash during election season, Wike stated that it would proceed.
He instructed the FCT Development Control Department not to delay the exercise.
Backstory…
The demolition comes as the minister’s response to the ongoing Abuja flood crisis. Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike conducted an inspection tour of flood-affected locations in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday morning following weekend downpours.
During the visit, Wike inspected a blocked drainage channel where a building was erected despite the plot’s allocation being revoked over a decade ago.
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, shared footage of the inspection on X, clarifying that the site was a designated water channel whose allocation had been officially revoked back in 2011.
Read Also: Wike Inspects Affected Areas, Finds Illegal Structure on Waterway
