Abuja Authorities Order Demolition Of Illegal Duplexes To Protect Green Spaces.
The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the demolition of over 10 illegally constructed duplexes in Wumba District, near Apo in Abuja. The structures, built on a designated green area without authorisation, have sparked a robust response from authorities committed to preserving the city’s master plan and environmental integrity.
During a joint inspection of illegal constructions across Abuja on Thursday, AMMC Coordinator Felix Obuah ordered the Development Control Department to raze the duplexes, condemning the developer’s defiance of prior stop-work orders. Obuah revealed that the developer had been instructed to halt construction and had even covered up stop-work notices marked on the buildings to continue the unauthorised project.
“When we invited the developer to provide legal documents, we discovered there was no paper, no approval, no allocation,” Obuah stated. “I asked him to stop, but the work continued. All these properties you see here are going down.”
The FCTA reiterated its unwavering commitment to upholding the Abuja Master Plan, which designates specific areas for green spaces to maintain environmental balance. Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control, confirmed that the developer lacked any approval and noted that the structures—some already roofed—had been marked at various stages of construction. “The only language Nigerians understand is the language of bulldozers,” Galadima said, affirming that the demolition would commence within 48 hours.
Chidemelu Echee, Director of Parks and Recreation at the FCTA, described the illegal construction as a “random destruction of the natural ecosystem” and a threat to Abuja’s carefully planned neighbourhoods, which balance urban development with nature. “This is a disaster waiting to happen,” Echee warned, linking the loss of green spaces to broader issues like global warming.
Osilama Braimah, Director of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, highlighted the severe environmental consequences of unchecked construction. He explained that concrete structures increase heat retention, raising ambient temperatures, while the absence of green spaces hampers water percolation, leading to flooding and depleted groundwater reserves. “Preserving green areas is essential for groundwater recharge, healthy boreholes, and mitigating flood risks,” Braimah said.
The FCTA’s decisive action has been welcomed by environmental advocates, who see it as a vital step toward protecting Abuja’s ecological balance. As the bulldozers prepare to move in, the demolition serves as a stark reminder of the administration’s resolve to safeguard the capital’s green heritage and ensure sustainable urban development.
