By Eunice Orike
Minister of the federal capital territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate stoppage of the use of green areas, parks and gardens in Abuja as car dealership lots and other unauthorised purposes.
The directive is part of the FCT Administration’s efforts to address flooding and protect designated green and recreational areas across the nation’s capital.
Wike, in the directive issued on Wednesday, expressed concern over the conversion of areas reserved for parks and recreation into car lots, stressing that such spaces must be preserved for their intended purposes.
The minister specifically cited areas designated for recreation, including the Millennium Park and other green areas within the Federal Capital City, which have allegedly been used as car dealership lots.
He directed that all unauthorised activities in such locations be closely monitored and stopped to ensure compliance with approved land-use regulations.
To enforce the directive, the FCT Administration has constituted a task force to identify and stop illegal use of green areas, parks and gardens across the capital.
The minister also ordered an investigation into civil servants alleged to have granted illegal approvals for the use of green areas as car dealership lots.
The affected officials, particularly Directors overseeing Parks and Recreation, Environmental Protection, Traffic Management and Urban Affairs, have been summoned by the FCT Head of Service, Nancy Sabanti Nathan, for investigation.
The development comes as the FCT Administration intensifies measures to tackle flooding and restore proper planning and land-use compliance in Abuja.
The administration has in recent days stepped up enforcement against activities and structures considered capable of obstructing drainage channels and waterways or undermining the city’s development plan.
The latest directive is expected to halt the growing practice of using spaces originally reserved for greenery, recreation and public open areas for commercial activities.
The FCT Administration is also expected to scrutinise approvals granted for such uses and determine whether they were issued in line with existing regulations.
The minister’s action underscores the administration’s renewed focus on enforcing Abuja’s land-use plan while protecting the city’s green spaces and infrastructure from unauthorised commercial activities.
