Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate demolition of structures built on water channels across Abuja, saying the exercise will not spare influential Nigerians or serving lawmakers.
Wike gave the order against the backdrop of recent flooding in parts of the Federal Capital Territory. He said any structure found on designated water channels would be demolished, regardless of the status of the owner or the political implications.
“I am going to bring those houses down. Any house that is found on the channel—water channel will go down,” he said.
The minister directed the Development Control Department to commence the demolitions immediately and continue throughout the week. He warned officials against delaying the exercise or shielding property owners found to have violated planning regulations.
Wike said some of the affected property owners were senators and other influential Nigerians. He also dismissed concerns that the demolitions could attract political backlash ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Whether there’s election or there’s no election, all those houses will go down,” he said.
The minister said the affected buildings had been standing on water channels for years and were not the homes of poor residents but properties belonging to wealthy Nigerians.
On the causes of the flooding, Wike said the heavy rainfall recorded in Abuja was partly linked to changing weather patterns, but blamed human activities for worsening the situation.
He identified the blockage of water channels by developers, construction on unauthorised land, failure to desilt drainages and indiscriminate dumping of refuse as major factors contributing to flooding in the territory.
“We are in a climate change era. The kind of rains we have experienced, or we are experiencing now, we have not experienced before. But that is not that there are no man-made factors,” he said.
Wike also warned against the conversion of green areas into parks, describing the practice as another form of land abuse. He said the administration would reverse improper land allocations and ensure that areas designated for public use were protected.
The minister also highlighted what he described as achievements recorded by his administration in the FCT over the past three years. He said 26,000 Certificates of Occupancy had been issued during the period, compared with 7,000 issued by two previous administrations over 13 years.
Wike accused some critics of using the recent flooding to play politics but commended residents who alerted the government to genuine flooding concerns.
He maintained that the demolition exercise would continue despite political criticism, insisting that structures built on water channels must be removed to reduce the risk of flooding in Abuja.
