Wike Suspends FCTA Director Over Unauthorised Approvals on Abuja Green Zones

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that a director in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has been suspended for allegedly issuing unauthorised “temporary approvals” to commercial operators on designated green areas.

Wike made the disclosure during a media chat on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as he spoke on measures being taken by the FCTA following recent flooding along the Airport Road axis and Lokogoma District in Abuja.

According to the minister, the administration has intensified enforcement against developments and activities that violate the Abuja masterplan, particularly those affecting green zones, waterways and designated road corridors.

He said the FCTA was also taking disciplinary action against officials found to have facilitated illegal encroachments.

Wike disclosed that another official had faced sanctions for allegedly reallocating park lands under the guise of security clearance.

The minister said the administrative measures were part of broader efforts to address both the immediate effects of the flooding and activities that may have contributed to flooding in affected communities.

Following reports of the flooding, Wike said the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Director of Development Control were dispatched to assess the situation in affected areas, including Lugbe and Lokogoma.

“When I heard of the incident, the Executive Secretary of the FCDA and the Director, Development Control had to go to the place, not only at the airport road but also in Lokogoma,” he said.

Wike said the assessment would help determine the extent to which human activities contributed to the flooding, distinguishing such cases from flooding caused by natural factors.

“The one that is man-made, we can solve the problem; the one that is natural, there is nothing we can do—it becomes a natural disaster. So, it’s something that we have to investigate,” he added.

While acknowledging the intensity of the recent rainfall in the nation’s capital, the minister said preliminary findings indicated that some areas had experienced years of violations of the Abuja masterplan.

According to him, structures had been erected without valid approvals in areas designated as natural waterways and along road corridors.

He specifically cited Lugbe as an area where violations of the masterplan had persisted over the years.

“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,” Wike said.

The minister vowed that the FCTA would take necessary steps to restore compliance with the Abuja masterplan, including removing structures found to be obstructing waterways.

Wike also dismissed the argument that developers could rely on approvals allegedly obtained from government agencies to justify developments in prohibited areas.

He said approvals issued contrary to established government policies, particularly those relating to green areas, would not prevent enforcement action.

“You got approval to do something wrong, sometimes, it’s under influence. Government policy is that nobody should do anything on green areas,” he said.

Wike warned that developers could not rely on such approvals as protection against demolition where their structures were found to have violated planning regulations.

“Now you go with the spirit that nothing will happen, and then when we come to enforce, you say you have approval. It is not going to be accepted,” he added.