FCTA Probes Abuja Flooding, Threatens Demolition Of Structures On Waterways
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced an investigation into recent flooding along the Airport Road corridor and Lokogoma District in Abuja, with the administration warning that structures obstructing waterways or violating the Abuja Masterplan will be demolished.
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, disclosed this on Wednesday during a media chat in Abuja.
Wike said the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Director of Development Control had been deployed to assess the affected areas, including communities along the Airport Road such as Lugbe and Lokogoma.
According to him, the investigation would determine whether the flooding was caused by natural factors or human activities.
He said while the recent rainfall in the FCT had been unusually heavy, preliminary findings suggested that violations of the Abuja Masterplan may have worsened the situation.
Wike accused some residents and developers of constructing buildings without approval and blocking waterways and designated road corridors.
He said the administration would remove any structure found to have been built on waterways or other protected areas.
“From our studies, Lugbe has always been violating the Abuja Masterplan. All over the years, you see people building without approval and blocking where is supposed to be a roadway.
“As an administration, we are not taking it lightly,” the minister said.
Wike also disclosed that disciplinary measures had been taken against officials allegedly involved in approving or facilitating illegal developments.
He said a director had recently been suspended for allegedly issuing unauthorised temporary approvals to commercial operators on designated green areas, while another official was sanctioned for allegedly reallocating park lands under the guise of security clearing.
The minister maintained that previous government approvals would not protect structures built contrary to established government policies.
“You got approval to do something wrong. Sometimes, it is under influence,” he said, stressing that government policy prohibited development on green areas.
Wike further disclosed that 76 of the 107 road projects awarded under President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the FCT had been completed, while 10 others were expected to be completed before the forthcoming elections.
He added that 23 of the 25 road projects inherited from the Muhammadu Buhari administration had been completed, alongside six of the eight projects inherited from the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
According to him, several abandoned projects dating back to the Olusegun Obasanjo administration had also been revived and completed.
The minister assured residents that both ongoing and inherited projects would be completed before the expiration of the current administration’s tenure.
On the removal of the fuel subsidy, Wike defended the policy and urged Nigerians to demand accountability from state and local governments over the increased revenue available to them.
He argued that the focus should be on how the gains from subsidy removal were being utilised rather than calls for its restoration.
Wike cited the revival of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit system and ongoing expansion of road infrastructure in the FCT as examples of projects being funded under the current administration.
The minister also spoke about the death of his political associate, Chief Dan Orbih, describing him as a principled and courageous leader who remained committed to his convictions despite political pressure.
On political developments in Rivers State, Wike said he remained involved in efforts to sustain political stability and strengthen his grassroots political structure.
He said major political actors in the state had aligned under what he described as a “Rainbow Coalition” in support of President Tinubu, expressing confidence that the opposition would struggle to present a united challenge in future elections.
