Wike Cracks Down on Abuja’s Master Plan Violations
ABUJA
OVL News
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged a sweeping crackdown on illegal land-use conversions, warning that unchecked distortions threaten to erode Abuja’s foundational master plan.
Wike condemned the “chaotic” transformation of residential zones into commercial hubs, describing it as a product of speculative real estate practices that overburden infrastructure, worsen traffic congestion, and strain public utilities.
Abuja’s master plan, designed in 1979 by the International Planning Associates, a consortium of U.S. urban design firms, was intended to accommodate a population of three million.
Today, the city’s population has swelled beyond six million, doubling the plan’s capacity and placing unprecedented pressure on essential services.
According to a 2024 FCT Development Control Department report, nearly 45% of commercial activity in the capital’s central districts takes place in structures originally designated for residential use.
Urban planning experts caution that without decisive enforcement, Abuja could lose its functional zoning framework within the next decade.
Wike said his administration will intensify monitoring, enforce zoning laws, and dismantle illegal conversions to restore the city’s intended design.
“We must protect Abuja’s identity and functionality for future generations,” he stated
