By Kamsi Anayo
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate demolition of buildings obstructing designated waterways in Maitama and other flood-prone parts of Abuja.
Wike gave the directive on Tuesday after inspecting areas affected by recent flooding in Maitama, ordering the FCT Development Control Department to commence the exercise without delay and continue through Saturday.
The minister said the enforcement would proceed regardless of the political activities taking place in the capital or the status of the owners of affected properties.
“We will demolish all those houses found on the water channel. Some of them are senators. Some of them are big men.
“Whether there’s election or there’s no election, all those houses will go down. Heaven will not fall. Rather, heaven will be at peace that the right thing has been done,” Wike said.
Wike said the recent flooding had exposed several factors contributing to flooding in Abuja, including construction on waterways, blocked drainage systems, indiscriminate waste disposal and poor supervision of developments.
He said inspections of affected areas showed that some property owners had blocked channels designated in the Abuja Master Plan for the movement of stormwater.
“Unfortunately, we have gone there, and we have seen how people have blocked channels where, in the Master Plan, that is the right way where the water is supposed to be channelled,” he said.
The minister said several of the affected properties belonged to wealthy Nigerians and had been standing for years, insisting that the identity or status of property owners would not prevent enforcement of planning regulations.
“All those built-up areas that were not supposed to be built up, not a single poor person will live there. Those houses are houses built by well-to-do Nigerians,” Wike said.
“Those houses are not houses that were built last week. Those houses have been there 10 years ago, eight years ago.”
He suggested that previous administrations may have lacked the political will to enforce development regulations, while some officials may have failed to adequately perform their duties.
Wike, however, said the FCT Administration was determined to enforce planning laws and address developments that violate approved regulations.
“I’m going to bring those houses down. Any house that’s found on the water channel will go down,” he said.
