Nyesom Wike
Environmental and housing advocates caution that the continued conversion of parks, gardens, and buffer zones in the FCT threatens Abuja’s sustainability, livability, and future generations.
Housing and environmental experts have called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to immediately halt the allocation and conversion of designated green areas in Abuja into residential and commercial developments.
The warning came from the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), a leading civil society organization dedicated to promoting housing rights and sustainable urban development in Nigeria. The group raised deep concern over what it described as the “rapid erosion” of the city’s green infrastructure, warning that the trend poses grave environmental, social, and infrastructural risks.
According to HDAN’s Executive Director, Festus Adebayo, Abuja was meticulously planned to include sufficient green spaces, parks, gardens, and buffer zones, to ensure a healthy and balanced living environment for its residents. However, he lamented that these vital areas are now being encroached upon and converted into estates, shopping complexes, and other developments in violation of the city’s master plan.
“Abuja’s green areas are not just aesthetic spaces; they are the lungs of the city,” Adebayo stated. “They regulate temperature, purify the air, prevent flooding, and provide recreational outlets for families and communities. Destroying them is not only environmentally reckless but also endangers the capital’s long-term sustainability.”
He warned that the unchecked transformation of parks and open spaces into concrete developments could result in increased flooding, congestion, pollution, and declining quality of life. Already, residents in districts such as Guzape, Maitama, Wuse, Katampe, and Kado have raised alarms over the disappearance of green belts originally mapped as environmental buffers and utility corridors.
Investigations by HDAN revealed that several of these zones have been fenced off, cleared, and built upon, in clear violation of Abuja’s urban planning guidelines. The consequences are becoming increasingly visible, recurrent flooding, damaged sewer lines, worsening air quality, and reduced access to open recreation spaces, especially during the rainy season when natural drainage systems are obstructed.
“The destruction of green zones is not just an environmental crisis but a governance issue,” Adebayo emphasized. “It raises serious questions about accountability and adherence to the Abuja Master Plan. If this continues, Abuja could lose its identity as a model city and become one plagued by congestion and environmental decay.”
Environmental experts have echoed HDAN’s position, warning that the erection of structures near waterways and directly under power transmission lines contravenes safety standards and heightens the risk of disasters. They cautioned that the capital is gradually losing its environmental balance, as developments once intended to improve urban living now threaten to undermine it.
Adebayo urged the FCT Minister to take decisive steps to restore order and transparency in land administration. “We are calling on the Minister to enforce the Abuja Master Plan, launch a comprehensive audit of all green zones, and collaborate with urban planners, environmentalists, and housing advocates to find sustainable pathways for development,” he said.
He added that while population growth and urbanization are putting pressure on land resources in the FCT, these challenges must not justify the destruction of spaces meant for public benefit. Instead, he called for innovative policies that balance housing needs with environmental preservation.
“Cities around the world are moving toward greener, more sustainable policies,” Adebayo noted. “Abuja should not be an exception. Protecting our green spaces is non-negotiable; it is a moral and practical responsibility to secure the city’s future and the well-being of generations to come.”
HDAN emphasized that preserving Abuja’s green areas is essential to maintaining the capital’s reputation as one of Africa’s most carefully planned cities. The organization called on residents, policymakers, and civil society to unite in defending the city’s natural assets before irreversible damage is done.
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