The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has urged FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to review the Abuja Master Plan without compromising designated parks and green areas.
The President of REDAN, Akintoye Adeoye, made the appeal in an exclusive interview on Tuesday in Abuja.
Adeoye, the paramount ruler of the Okeigbo community in Ondo State, also advocated redeveloping low-density neighbourhoods in the FCT into high-rise buildings as an alternative to encroaching on parks and environmentally sensitive areas.
According to him, redevelopment has enabled many cities around the world to accommodate growing populations while preserving their green spaces and environmental heritage.
“In areas dominated by low-rise buildings, you can demolish them and replace them with high-rise buildings to accommodate more people. Parks should be treated as legacy infrastructure, which should not be touched. Your parks are part of your ecosystem. If you continue to damage your ecosystem, it is not good enough,” he said.
The REDAN president noted that master plans are dynamic planning documents and should be reviewed as needed to address emerging urban development challenges and promote city growth.
“One thing about the Master Plan is that it is subject to change. It is not static. But in changing your Master Plan, you have to do so in a way that addresses problems or challenges,” he added.
Adeoye cautioned against altering designated parks and green areas, describing them as essential environmental assets that should be preserved despite increasing pressure from urban development.
“I don’t know the reason why the parks are being touched. But if the reason is that we do not have land and we need to take part of the green areas, then I disagree with whoever is doing that,” he said.
He said cities should expand by opening new areas through infrastructure development rather than converting parks and other designated green spaces into residential or commercial developments.
According to him, governments should extend roads, electricity, water supply and transportation infrastructure to undeveloped areas to accommodate population growth without destroying environmental assets.
“You expand by extending infrastructure to areas that are not yet developed. Then, you back it up with road and rail infrastructure, water supply and ferry services. These will enable people to commute easily and affordably,” he said.
The traditional ruler reiterated that the Abuja Master Plan could be reviewed to address emerging development challenges, but such reviews must not affect designated parks and green areas.