The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the demolition of about 6,000 illegal structures in 30 areas of Abuja. The minister said the move was aimed at restoring the master plan of the FCT and preventing any form of distortion.
Wike made the announcement on Monday, August 21, 2023, during his first press conference as the FCT minister. He said he was ready to step on toes and revoke the lands of those who had failed to develop them for a long time. He also warned that no one would be spared, regardless of their status or position.
“All those people who are distorting the master plan of Abuja, too bad. If you know you have built where you are not supposed to build, it will go down. Be you a minister of anywhere, be you an ambassador, if you know you have developed where you were not supposed to develop, your house must go down,” Wike said.
He added that the green areas and parks in Abuja must be reclaimed from those who had encroached on them. “Those who have taken over the green areas to build; sorry, our parks must come back, the green areas must come back. If you hate green, you must hate yourself,” he said.
According to the FCTA Department of Development Control Director, Muktar Galadima, 30 areas in Abuja had been mapped out for demolition. He said the last survey conducted in February 2022 identified 6,000 abandoned houses that would be affected. He added that a new survey would be carried out to update the list.
Some of the areas marked for demolition are Apo Mechanic Village, Byanzhin, Dawaki, Dei Dei, Durumi, Dutse, Garki, Garki Village, Gishiri, Gwagwalada, Idu, Jabi, Kado Village, Karmo, Karshi, Karu, Katampe, Ketti Village, Kpaduma, Kabusa, Kpana Village, Kubwa, Lokogoma, Lugbe, Mabushi, Mpape, Nyanya, Piya Kasa and Jikwoyi.
