The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has directed the immediate demolition of all structures built on water channels and right-of-way zones across the territory.
Wike gave the directive while briefing newsmen after inspecting flood-affected areas in Maitama District, Abuja, on Tuesday.
He said the recent flooding in parts of the nation’s capital was aggravated by man-made factors, particularly illegal developments obstructing natural drainage channels.
“We have gone there, and we have seen how people have blocked channels where in the master plan, that is the right-of-way where water is supposed to be channeled.
“People, by their positions, have blocked it, believing that nothing will happen. I have told people this in life, that nothing happened yesterday does not mean that something will not happen today.
“Now you have done your own by blocking the water channel, and nothing has happened. Thank God the flood has come and have drawn our attention to the place; now something will happen. I’m going to bring those houses down.
“Any house found on the water channel will go down. From today to Saturday, let the Development Control not find any excuse — they cannot,” Wike declared.
The minister said no one would be spared from the enforcement, including highly placed individuals and senators who owned properties obstructing waterways.
He said flooding was a global challenge driven partly by climate change, but noted that illegal developments, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and failure to desilt drainage channels had worsened the situation in Abuja.
Wike said some of the structures obstructing waterways were built by wealthy Nigerians under previous administrations that lacked the political will to enforce the Abuja Master Plan.
“I have the political will and what has happened today will show Nigerians that we have the political will to tackle those man-made factors,” he said.
He also denied allegations that the current administration allocated water-channel pathways to developers, challenging critics to provide evidence of such allocations and building approvals.
Wike dismissed criticism of the administration’s handling of the flooding as political, saying the FCT administration had addressed several major challenges in the territory and would continue to do so.
He also dismissed comments by Sen. Ireti Kingibe, representing the FCT in the Senate, on the administration’s response to the flood crisis, urging her to focus on legislative responsibilities rather than seeking media attention.
