An increasing number of spaces designated as green areas in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are gradually disappearing, findings by Weekend Trust have shown.
Green areas, also being referred to as green spaces or open spaces, are areas covered in vegetation, like grass, trees and plants, which are normally set aside for recreation, conservation or aesthetic purposes, most especially in cities and major towns in various countries.
Findings by this newspaper in Abuja, however, revealed that for several months, there have been infractions on such specially designated areas, especially in highbrow districts like Guzape, Maitama, Central Business District (CBD), Katampe, Wuse and Kado.
In some instances, such specially designated areas are being turned into residential structures or converted for other purposes like construction of business outlets.
Equally affected in such obvious violations of the Abuja master plan, which was created since 1979 to ensure adequate planning and coordination of developmental efforts in the capital city, are waterways, drainages, areas meant for convenient passage of sewage, as well as electricity high tension wire pathways.
Residents and experts who spoke to our reporters described this development as “disaster in waiting,” considering that such areas are secured in order to preserve the natural setting of the capital city as a way of ensuring the safety of residents while also maintaining the beauty of the capital city.
Guzape, Katampe and other neighbourhoods
During a visit by our reporters to Guzape in the second weekend of March, some residents who spoke said about 70 hectares of green areas and high tension pathways in the district had been either fully turned into residential buildings or converted for extraneous purposes other than recreation. For instance, a green area located along Abdulrahman Okene Street, where a u-shaped land totalling 3.4 hectares was originally allocated as a park and recreational area, has been used for residential buildings.
Besides changing its original purpose, Weekend Trust learnt that there has been a back and forth on the property following double allocations to two different entities.
Indicated on the layout plan of the area as Park No. 1803, checks revealed that the first allocation was granted on July 3, 2007 and the second one on July 14, 2015. This is said to have resulted in a dispute.
Apparently because of the dispute, there has not been serious development on the plot; directly opposite it is a recreation park that has been erected.
However, in a letter dated April 2, 2024 seen by our reporters, one of the contending parties had written to the Director, Department of Parks and Recreation of the FCT, seeking intervention.
The claimant stated in the letter that the place was proposed for approval to serve as an outdoor and indoor events and general recreation spot.
The letter stated, “We had started processing approval and clearing the site for fencing when the second party came and took over the plot and integrated it into an estate development project. Sir, please we need your proactive intervention to recover this park and develop it for public use.”
Another infraction
Also, at the entrance into the district along Bala Mohammed Street, there is an ongoing construction work directly under a high-tension power line.
This is against the usual safety protocol by the Development Control Department of the FCT, which states that no construction should be done directly under a high-tension power line due to safety concerns.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) safety regulation, titled: “Nigerian Electricity Supply and Installation Standards Regulations 2015,” stipulates that for a 330kv transmission line, a 50-metre distance split equally must be maintained on both sides of the lines before erecting structures. For a 132kV transmission line, the distance is 30 metres. For the power distribution side, 33kv and 11kv lines must have on both sides, a distance of 11 metres.
“For safety reasons, no structure shall be built under the overhead line’s right of way (RoW). Where such structures are built after the construction of the lines, the licensee shall not be liable for any mishap caused by contact with the lines,” the law further states.
It also mandates distribution companies (DisCos) to comply with certain sections. For instance, where overhead lines with bare conductors are routed across sites used for public recreation and work activities other than farming, they shall be protected with cradle guards or nets.
Weekend Trust reports that this has not been complied with at some locations in the Katampe area as construction of buildings is currently ongoing near the high tension wires.
Sources said that green areas, water channels and others allocated for residential purposes in the entire Guzape District spanned up to 70 hectares. A map of the area seen by our reporters brought the picture clearly.
Central Business District not left out
Also, in the Central Business District (CBD), a number of places hitherto reserved for conservation, parks and water channels, among others, have been converted to other purposes. For instance, the site for the construction of a Magistrate’s Court along Funmilayo Ransome Kuti Road, adjacent AYM Shafa Filling Station in Garki, was originally a park that was re-designated.
Another area that has been reassigned is behind Government Secondary School, Area 3, Garki. Already, plots are being fenced ahead of construction. The new plots could be sighted from the NNPC mega station.
Elsewhere, construction work on a green area and flood plain is ongoing around the National Mosque. The site is crammed on both sides of the Nigeria-Export Import Bank, City Park and the Wood Bridge Park.
Also, at Kado Estate, our reporters observed clearing work going on in an area opposite Lakeview Homes, by Phase 11 Gate, which is along a waterway.
Although the area had already been fenced with iron plates, officials of the Development Control Department of the FCT Administration had marked it with “stop work” inscription.
‘There’s danger ahead’
The immediate past chairperson of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, FCT chapter, Lami Ayuba, said the crave by influential people to live in some popular districts like Maitama, Guzape and Garki was putting pressure on government officials to convert green areas to residential buildings.
In an exclusive interview with Weekend Trust, she alleged that pressure from various quarters was making some of the officials to violate the master plan by re-allocating green areas for other purposes or mixed use, as the case may be.
She said that unless something urgent was done, the annual disaster at the Trademore Estate, Lugbe District, would be witnessed in other districts.
A letter of caution
In a letter dated February 3, 2025, titled, ‘Conversion and Redesign of Green Areas to Mixed Use/Estate/Residential and Commercial Land Uses,’ the Nigerian Association of Town Planners, Abuja chapter, drew the attention of the FCT minister to the dangers inherent in converting green areas for other purposes.
Part of the letter, signed by Lami Ayuba when she was the chairman reads: “This is a request for the honourable minister of the FCT to review the on-going process of redesign and conversion of green areas to mixed uses, residential, estate and/or commercial land uses, especially in Guzape District.”
The letter stated that most places designated as green areas may have certain physical, natural or manmade encumbrances that determined their designation.
According to the advisory, such places serve as district storm drainage waterways, and any permanent development will block the storm-ways, causing flooding in due course.
Our reporters also saw a copy of the same letter sent to the Director, Servicom in the FCT, drawing attention to the ongoing infractions.
‘Gross misappropriation ongoing’
In an article published recently in Daily Trust, Umar Shuaibu, who had served as the coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, also alleged that there was massive misappropriation of land in the FCT.
Clampdown on uncompromising officials
Weekend Trust gathered that some government officials who showed resistance to the some of the infractions were allegedly being victimised.
A source told our reporters that a former executive secretary of the FCTA, Abdulhadi Shehu, an engineer, was allegedly suspended because he insisted that the right thing must be done in land allocation in the FCT.
“The incumbent director of lands in the FCT is the third appointed since the inception of the current administration.
“Also, the Director, Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) is the third appointed, while the Director, Urban and Regional Planning has been redeployed to the Office of the Executive Secretary,” the source said.
Cautious developers, residents worry
Some experts in the property sector have also joined to warn against misallocation of green areas, calling on professionals under the employment of the FCT Administration to advise the minister.
The executive director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Festus Adebayo, a lawyer, said green areas in the FCT could not have been reallocated if the professionals working with the minister did not make such recommendations.
Also speaking, the immediate past chairman of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Aliyu Wamakko said: “Green areas anywhere in the world are reserved to beautify the city and allow children access to recreation, as such if the news of reallocation of green areas by the FCT Administration is true, then it is wrong and must be revisited.”
Minister not violating any law – Spokesman
Speaking on the matter, the FCT minister’s Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said only the FCT Administration could determine which place constitutes green area and also has the liberty to re-allocate such for other usage when the need arises.
He said there were instances where green areas approved for gardens and other recreation services were used as churches and other purposes, adding that in such cases, such allocation could be revoked.
He, however, said a problem could arise when officials abuse the reallocation process.
Lere also questioned those challenging Wike’s actions, saying, “Are they (green areas) properly reallocated? Do the new beneficiaries pay the required amount to the FCTA? These are some of the questions we should be asking.”
He said the FCT Administration had the right to allocate for a certain purpose, as well as change the purpose, depending on the situation at a particular time.
He added that if an area was allocated as green and such place is left undeveloped for a long time, the administration has the liberty to revoke and re-allocate it for the same purpose or otherwise.
