Abuja’s green spaces are disappearing to housing projects

When the Federal Government created the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, it was envisioned as a symbol of national unity — a city of order, beauty and balance. It was designed to stand as Africa’s model capital, combining modernity with environmental harmony. Over the years, successive FCT ministers have contributed in varying degrees to the […]

When the Federal Government created the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, it was envisioned as a symbol of national unity — a city of order, beauty and balance. It was designed to stand as Africa’s model capital, combining modernity with environmental harmony.

Over the years, successive FCT ministers have contributed in varying degrees to the city’s growth. Some made remarkable progress, while others left behind mixed legacies. Yet, as many residents now argue, the true test of their achievements lies not in the applause of the moment but in how posterity will judge the city they leave behind.

In recent times, however, the current FCT administration has come under criticism over the conversion of designated green and open areas into residential and commercial developments. While the administration has been praised for expanding road networks and improving infrastructure, its policies on Abuja’s green zones have raised concerns among environmentalists, urban planners, and residents.

Experts say the green areas in the Abuja Master Plan were not merely ornamental. They were deliberately designed to serve as floodplains, drainage buffers, and corridors for utilities such as sewage lines and electricity cables. They also help regulate air quality, control temperature, and provide recreational spaces for residents.

By allocating and permitting development on these green spaces, critics argue, the authorities are undermining one of the fundamental principles of the Abuja Master Plan. The city’s design guidelines stipulate that at least one-third of the FCT’s total landmass must remain green. The Department of Development Control also requires that adequate vegetation be incorporated into every development plan before approval.

Environmental analysts warn that neglecting these principles could have dire consequences. Recent incidents of flooding in parts of Asokoro, Guzape, and Wuse — districts that were once free of such problems — are cited as early signs of what might become a recurring urban crisis.

The effects go beyond the environment. Overdevelopment, experts say, strains infrastructure such as roads, water supply, power, and waste management systems. It also reduces property values and livability, as congestion and insecurity rise in densely built-up areas.

Residents have also raised legal and ethical questions about the Ministry’s authority to convert green areas. Some reports suggest that certain developments may have proceeded despite existing court orders prohibiting such actions.

Since the FCT Parks and Gardens Agency was established by a Federal Government Gazette, analysts argue that altering its designated lands without legislative approval could be considered beyond the ministry’s legal powers. Some legal experts have even suggested that such actions could amount to a breach of constitutional provisions governing the management of public spaces.

The issue is not new. Past efforts to restore the Abuja Master Plan have often been reversed by successive administrations, creating a cycle of enforcement and violation that has eroded public confidence. Urban planners warn that if the trend continues, the city may reach a tipping point where restoration becomes impossible.

Converting buffer zones, parks, and open spaces into housing estates or business premises may bring short-term financial benefits, but experts say the long-term costs — in environmental degradation, falling property values, and declining investor confidence — far outweigh the gains.

Abuja was built to showcase what disciplined, planned urban development could achieve. Preserving that vision, stakeholders insist, requires the FCT Administration to halt further encroachment on green areas, reclaim those already taken over, and commit to sustainable environmental practices.

Only then, they say, can the city remain true to its founding vision — a capital that balances growth with order, and development with respect for nature.

 

Abidemi Steven Aiyedogbon, Faculty of Estate Surveying and Valuation, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers