By Olawumi Oyehan
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, ordered the immediate removal of illegal structures obstructing the water ways in Abuja.
Wike stated this after inspecting some areas in Maitama, FCT that were flooded, in the last few days.
The FCT Minister reiterated his commitment in tackling the man made factors in FCT and everyone who built on water channels would be demolished starting from today.
The FCT Minister who blamed Climate Change and man made errors on the current flooding incidents in Abuja.
He added that no administration would be happy that flooding is destroying properties.
Responding to critics, he said, this is not the first flooding in Abuja and
According to Wike, “Unfortunately, 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 the water is supposed to be channelled.
”People, by their positions, have blocked it, believing that nothing will happen.
Now you have done your own by blocking the water channel and nothing has happened.
”Thank God the flood has come. It has drawn our attention to the place. Now something will happen. I’m going to bring those houses down.
”Any house that’s found on the channel—water channel will go down. From today to Saturday, if the development control delay, let them find any excuse to run away, they cannot.
”Some of the houses are for senators. Some of them are big men. The next thing you will see campaign now, ‘Oh, why is he doing this during period of election?’
”Heaven will not fall. Rather, heaven will be at peace that the right thing has been done. People talk about parks. Go and see. Taking over the green areas to make parks. Go to everywhere, and we have tried to see how we can stop this.
Parks are not green areas. That there are different things between what you call using as a recreation centre and preserving as a green area. There are two things,” he said.
Wike lamented the rate at which people convert land illegally, to suit their purpose, and also condemned residents that are throwing refuse into the drainages.
”But again, we owe it as a responsibility not to pour our refuse into the drainages to be believing that, oh, government will come and desilt. That’s unfair.
”You sell your groundnut, government has allowed you to sell your corn. You don’t think that after peeling the corn, you need to pack the refuse. Sometimes you carry it and pour it there,” he said .
Responding to his critics, he said, “When did Wike come? Simply because they say we have done well in this, that, and the other, this, with this commissioning. So, they are looking for something to rubbish you. You cannot.
”I never created any flood. I never.
So, I hope now that we have started to demolish, you won’t cry to say, ‘Oh, it’s against a political opponent.’ No.”
Wike, therefore, reiterated his commitment in doing the right things always in Abuja.
Wike has destroyed Abuja, activist Deji Adeyanju criticises FCT Minister over flooding
Activist Deji Adeyanju has criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the recent flooding that hit parts of Abuja, accusing the minister of failing to address the city’s worsening urban planning problems.
Adeyanju took to social media to express his frustration after heavy rainfall caused flooding in several parts of the nation’s capital, including the highbrow Maitama area.
According to the activist, poor urban planning and alleged encroachment on waterways are contributing to the recurring flooding in Abuja. He described the situation as evidence that the city is sinking and blamed Wike for what he sees as the deterioration of the capital.
Wike blames scavengers for flooding as Master Plan faces review
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has linked recent flooding in Abuja to damage caused by scavengers, adding that the nation’s capital’s master plan is already under review.
The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
The statement was in reaction to comments by activist, Deji Adeyanju (Esq.), who accused Wike of destroying Abuja while maintaining that most parts of the nation’s capital are flooded due to “greed.”
What the Minister’s aide is saying
Olayinka confirmed that there was heavy rainfall in Abuja on Saturday and, consequently, some areas were heavily flooded.
He added that the flooding persisted for a while after the rainfall before eventually receding.
He explained that, contrary to Adeyanju’s comments, the FCT Administration under Nyesom Wike is mindful of the development and is taking steps to forestall future occurrences.
He highlighted that the recent flooding was not the first to be recorded in Abuja, noting that similar flooding occurred in 2019.
“Sad reality is that Abuja has been witnessing floods long before Wike assumed office. In 2019, heavy rainfall flooded sections of Wuse, Jabi and Lokogoma. In 2022, the same pattern returned: Lokogoma District, Efab Estate, Gudu axis and connecting bridges were overwhelmed,” he stated.
He maintained that the flooding witnessed last Saturday was another reminder of the “seasonal reality of a rapidly expanding city, with drainage infrastructure, waste management and enforcement of planning rules not keeping pace with growth.”
“It is also a pointer to damage being caused by scavengers who are daily stealing drainage covers, thereby exposing the drainage to refuse,” he added.
To address the development, he stated that the FCT Administration is already reviewing the 1979 Abuja Master Plan “to accommodate the new realities of the capital city.”
He added that drainage covers that would be difficult for scavengers to remove are also being used.
In March 2026, the FCT Administration partnered with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to review and upgrade the Abuja Master Plan.
The partnership is expected to drive infrastructure improvements, enhance urban mobility and support the broader development of Abuja as a smart city.
Wike emphasised that Japan’s earlier involvement in designing Abuja positions it strategically to contribute to the city’s modernisation.
Meanwhile, JICA’s Chief Representative, Mr Ishigami Keiji, noted at the time that the review process had reached a critical stage and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to developing a sustainable and resilient capital city.
Wike promises to complete two projects in December
By Olawumi Oyehan
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, assured Abuja residents of delivery of two major road projects by December in Abuja.
The FCT Minister stated this when he inspected some on going road projects in Abuja.
He said the contractors handling the projects, particularly CGC, have demonstrated commitment by working day and night despite limited mobilisation.
The projects include the ISEX Road, awarded in 2014, with its first phase covering about 5.4 kilometres and two interchanges.
The minister commended the contractors for supporting the administration’s development agenda and urged other companies to emulate their commitment. He expressed confidence that both projects would be completed before the end of the year.
”And I want to commend the contractor, CGC. In fact, each time I discuss with them, they’ve always been so hopeful that they will complete the job, working day and night.
”They are also in charge of the ISEX, which was awarded in 2014, which is 10 years now. Very important road. I really would want to thank, Mr. President for approving the complete release of the funds for the ISEX, of the first phase, which includes two interchanges and I think about 5.4 kilometers of road.
”And I want to commend the contractors for having confidence in us, that even though they’ve not been mobilized much, yet you see the level of work. And that shows their commitment and belief in this administration.
”That’s why I call on all other contractors to emulate. Everything is not about profit. Sometimes, for the development, they call it their own contribution for the development of the area. Money will come at the end of the day. There’s no, government that will give out jobs and will not want to pay.
”Probably, the money may not have— may not come at that time you expected, but at the end of the day, we believe that you have moved work, you deserve your payment.
”So, I thank them and let them continue. And all other contractors, my call to them is to emulate what CGC is doing. I want to commend them and let them not, um, you know, uh, be reluctant. I know that when you say this, some companies will go and lobby them to say, “Oh, why are you working when we are not working?” Please, they’re committed to contribute to the success of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s, uh, administration.
”So, I’m quite confident by December ending, God willing, these two projects would have been handed over to us. And we can see— you can imagine what the landscape would be. Indeed, the present administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given so much to the Federal Capital, uh, Territory. We thank him for that, and we also thank the people for the support that they’ve been giving to the administration. We don’t have any crisis of community problems,” Wike noted.