Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the demolition of houses built on designated water channels in Abuja, warning that structures obstructing waterways will be pulled down regardless of the status of their owners.
Wike gave the directive on Tuesday during a press briefing at his office after inspecting areas affected by flooding in parts of the FCT following heavy rainfall.
The minister said his inspection revealed that some property owners had blocked channels designated for water flow under the Abuja Master Plan.
“And certainly, we have gone there, and we have seen how people have blocked channels where in the master plan, that is the right way where a channel is supposed to be. People, by their positions, have blocked it, believing that nothing will happen,” he said.
Wike said the recent flooding had exposed the consequences of obstructing waterways, stressing that structures built on the channels would be demolished.
“I have told people this in life: that nothing happened yesterday does not mean that something will not happen today. That it did not happen today does not mean that it will not happen tomorrow,” he said.
“Now you have done your own by blocking the water channel, and nothing has happened. Thank God the flood has come; it has drawn our attention to the place. Now, something will happen. I am going to bring those houses down. Any house that falls on the water channel will go down.”
The minister directed the FCT Development Control Department to take action against structures found on waterways by Saturday.
“From today to Saturday, if Development Control likes, let them find any excuses. If they like, let them find excuses—too bad. They can’t. We will demolish all those houses found on the water channel,” he said.
Wike also dismissed concerns that the demolition could be influenced by the political status of property owners, saying structures belonging to politicians and other prominent individuals would not be spared.
“Some of them are Senators, some of them are big men. The next thing you’ll see is campaigns now: ‘Oh, why is he doing this during the election?’ That is the next campaign you will see now. Stop it! We have finished elections. Where is the election? There is no election. All those houses will go down,” he said.
“Heaven will not fall; rather, heaven will fall if that peace, that right thing, has not been done.”
The directive followed Wike’s inspection of flood-affected areas in Maitama, where he also visited a designated drainage area on which a structure had been erected despite the plot being revoked in 2011.
Wike’s aide on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said the location was originally allocated but later revoked because it was a drainage area.
“The spot here is a Drainage Area. It was allocated, but REVOKED in 2011. Structure was built on it,” Olayinka wrote in a post accompanying footage of the inspection.
The inspection came amid renewed concerns over flooding in parts of Abuja following heavy rainfall on Saturday.
Olayinka had earlier said the FCT Administration was reviewing the 1979 Abuja Master Plan to reflect current realities, while drainage covers designed to prevent scavengers from removing them were also being installed across the territory.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
What do you think about this?
Drop your opinion in the comment section.
FOLLOW US & Share this with someone who needs to see this.
