Wike Orders Demolition Of Houses Built On Abuja Water Channels

Wike Orders Demolition of Houses Built on Abuja Water Channels

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate demolition of houses and other structures built on designated water channels and drainage corridors in Abuja, following recent flooding in parts of the capital. Wike issued the directive on Tuesday after inspecting flood-affected areas in Maitama and other parts of the FCT, saying structures obstructing waterways were contributing to the severity of flooding. The minister directed the FCT Department of Development Control to begin enforcement immediately and remove structures found on designated waterways by Saturday Wike insisted that the demolition would not be stopped by the status or political connections of property owners.

He said some of the affected properties belonged to senators and other influential Nigerians, but warned that political pressure would not prevent the government from enforcing the Abuja Master Plan.

The minister said the government had the political will to act against illegal developments regardless of who owned them.

Wike said recent heavy rainfall had exposed numerous cases where property owners had blocked channels designated for stormwater under the Abuja Master Plan. He also identified indiscriminate dumping of refuse, blocked drainage systems and inadequate enforcement of development regulations as factors worsening flooding in the capital. He directed relevant FCT agencies to immediately desilt identified drainage systems and warned residents against dumping waste in waterways. The minister acknowledged that unusually heavy rainfall and climate change could contribute to flooding, but maintained that human activities had significantly aggravated the situation. The directive represents one of the strongest enforcement measures yet by the FCT Administration against developments obstructing Abuja’s drainage network, with Wike insisting that no political consideration would override the need to keep designated waterways clear.