 Minister Nyesom Wike has announced plans to demolish buildings encroaching on Abuja's green spaces){kind=link}
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has announced plans to demolish buildings encroaching on Abuja’s green spaces.
Wike has recently ramped up efforts to clear illegal structures and informal settlements across the capital.
On November 5, residents of Ruga, a community along Abuja’s airport road, protested the destruction of their homes, calling for Wike’s removal.
Leading the protest were Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju.
However, Wike declared he would not be deterred by protests or allegations and intends to continue the demolition of shanties he believes compromise public safety.
In a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike expressed concern over encroachment on green areas. “Over the weekend, I personally visited Maitama with our land and development team,” he explained.
“I don’t just stay in the office; I go out to see firsthand what’s happening. I saw that green spaces were nearly gone, with no trees left.”
He further asserted that structures on green spaces built without proper authorization would be removed without compensation, stating, “Why compensate for illegal encroachment on public land?”
Wike also noted the prevalence of counterfeit land documents, some of which were improperly certified by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
He cautioned civil servants against exceeding their legal powers, stressing that only the FCT minister is authorized to issue certificates of occupancy (C of O).
“Any decisions made without authority are unlawful. We must stop the rush to build without understanding the legal boundaries. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse,” he said.
“Civil servants cannot sign in place of the minister or governor, as this causes serious issues.”
He concluded by warning that anyone unlawfully occupying land in the FCT would face the consequences.