Wike Orders Immediate Demolition Of Structures On Waterways
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate demolition of all structures constructed along natural waterways and flood channels across the FCT.
The directive was issued on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, following an on-the-ground assessment visit to flood-affected areas in the Maitama District of Abuja.
Addressing journalists after the inspection, the Minister emphasized that the administration will not tolerate actions that compromise the safety of residents or breach the Abuja Master Plan, regardless of the status of the property owners involved.
He directed the FCT Department of Development Control to immediately identify and dismantle all illegal structures obstructing natural water passages without delay, stressing that exceptions will not be made for high profile individuals.
“I’m going to bring those structures down. Any house that fell on the water channel will go down. From today till Saturday, if the development control like, let them find any excuse to run away, they cannot. Thank God the Director Development Control is here because if you are running away to find excuses, you can’t. We will demolish all those houses found on the water channel”, the Minister stated.
He clarified that properties built illegally on water channels—including those owned by high-ranking officials and politicians—will be brought down without political consideration or bias.
“Any house that fell on the water channel will go down… We will demolish all those houses found on the water channel. Some of them are owned by Senators and big men… Whether there is election or 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”.
He reiterated that the FCTA was committed to correcting long-standing structural violations, emphasizing that previous inaction by past administrations will not prevent necessary corrective actions today.
“Fortunately, we have gone there and we have seen how people blocked water channels, where, in the master plan, water is supposed to be channeled, believing that nothing will happen. That nothing happened yesterday does not mean that something will not happen today or tomorrow. Thank God the flood has come, it has drawn our attention to the place, now something will happen”, the Minister said.
In addition to the demolition exercise, the Minister disclosed that the FCTA is initiating immediate facility management operations to desilt blocked drainages across affected districts as well as advance key infrastructure projects, such as the Lokogoma road project, to improve flood resilience.
While acknowledging climate change and heavy rainfall as part of the global reality responsible for flooding, the Minister identified key man-made factors driving localized flooding, including illegal construction on drainage routes, failure of officials to enforce building codes, and improper waste disposal blocking manholes and drainages.
He called on residents and stakeholders to exercise civic responsibility, urging the public to support ongoing urban renewal efforts and adopt proper waste disposal habits to maintain clean, safe, and functioning drainage systems across the FCT.
The Minister also categorically denied allegations that the current administration allocated land on water channels for estate developments, challenging anyone making such claims to provide concrete evidence.
“I don’t want to reply to political commentators. If that politician is bold enough, why not say it was allocated to Mr. A and it’s a water channel area and it’s now being used as an estate. You don’t just make blanket statements. You cannot determine which area is the water channel to the FCT. You don’t know the masterplan more than us. You just sit in your place and say this is a water channel.
“How can somebody allocate a water channel to somebody to build? You think that those who work in FCTA are morons and they don’t know what they are doing? So, I want to categorically deny the claim that this administration allocates water channels for people to develop”, the Minister stated.
