Abuja’s Usuma Dam faces encroachment threat

Concerns have emerged over alleged encroachment and conversion of land originally reserved for public infrastructure around the Usuma Dam in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with stakeholders warning of environmental and planning violations. Abuja Metro learnt that the land located near Ushafa junction in Bwari Area Council was designated for construction of water treatment plants […]

Concerns have emerged over alleged encroachment and conversion of land originally reserved for public infrastructure around the Usuma Dam in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with stakeholders warning of environmental and planning violations.

Abuja Metro learnt that the land located near Ushafa junction in Bwari Area Council was designated for construction of water treatment plants to support Abuja’s growing population.

The FCT Water Board currently operates about four treatment plants around the dam, with long-term projections to expand to at least 10 in phases.

According to credible insider sources, feasibility studies for two additional plants had already been conducted, but implementation stalled due to funding constraints.

However, the situation appears to have taken a new turn with a recent clearing of the land for a commercial layout.

A community leader, Bala Usman, while speaking on the matter said the encroachment activities began recently.

“All of a sudden, heavy-duty equipment belonging to a construction firm was moved to the site and work commenced immediately with land clearing and leveling,” he said.

Abuja Metro further learnt that the ongoing development is not for public infrastructure but for a private commercial facility, reportedly including a market. Workers at the site, who spoke to our reporter during separate visits, corroborated the claim.

Notably, there was no project signboard at the site, contrary to standard procedure, raising further questions about transparency of ongoing development.

During a recent visit, engineers were observed excavating near a major trunk water pipeline supplying Bwari town from the Usuma Dam.

Speaking on the development, a retired engineer from FCT Water Board who spoke in confidence, said the encroachment if not addressed could have a negative impact on the dam’s operation especially in the aspect of water treatment plants.

He warned that the reserved lands around Usuma Dam are of far greater strategic value than prime districts such as Maitama and Asokoro, stressing that no other location in the territory is as suitable for water treatment and distribution infrastructure.

According to him, the Abuja master plan clearly designates the Usuma axis for a series of water treatment facilities spanning phases one to eight, all intended to serve the entire FCT and its area councils.

He expressed concern over what he described as encroachment and possible conversion of the reserved land for other uses, warning that such actions could have long-term consequences for water supply in the capital.

“The treatment plants were planned to serve the whole FCT. So how can an individual take over part of that land for personal use, even allocating it for a market?” he queried. “What happens tomorrow if Abuja faces severe water scarcity? This is not a project you can simply relocate elsewhere.”

The engineer insisted that any development on the site violates the Abuja master plan and should not qualify for compensation.

“The earlier this is addressed, the better, before it becomes a bigger issue,” he said. “If people are allowed to build infrastructure there and later expect compensation, that will not happen, because the land was already earmarked for public use.”

“The planners during the Shagari era were deliberate in their design. They located treatment plants at the highest points of the city for the benefit of all residents,” he said.

Experts say such pipelines are not to be tampered with, as they are designated for bulk supply to storage facilities, not direct commercial use.

The development comes amid growing reports of encroachment within the Usuma Dam buffer zone, where portions of protected land have reportedly been converted into private farmhouses, hotels, and resort centres in recent times.

Efforts to get the reaction of the FCT Water Board on the matter yesterday proved abortive as officials at the agency’s Public Relations Unit said there was a circular from the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to heads of agencies under the FCTA not to grant interviews to journalists.

According to them, all inquiries must be directed to the minister’s office for response.

Meanwhile, an official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Board was aware of some developments going on around the dam, adding that a committee has been set up to look into the matter.  

Special Adviser to the FCT Minister on Media, Lere Olayinka, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.

Environmental experts have warned that such encroachment threatens the integrity of the dam, one of Abuja’s primary water sources through increased erosion, ecosystem disruption, and potential contamination of raw water.

An Abuja-based estate valuer, Daniel Goroh, described the trend as dangerous and short-sighted.

“Conversion of reserved land to private use undermines infrastructure planning and poses long-term environmental risks. Abuja is a well-planned city, and due process must be followed in land administration, otherwise we will face serious consequences in the future,” he said.

He noted that several plots initially earmarked for recreational use in the city centre have already been converted to residential and commercial purposes, contrary to the Abuja master plan.

Goroh also urged the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to prioritise the provision of basic infrastructure in new layouts, including roads, drainage, water supply, and electricity

“What we see today is that over 60 percent of new layouts lack access to Water Board services, forcing residents to rely on boreholes and self-provided electricity infrastructure,” he added.

 

FCT Development Control reacts

When contacted, the Acting Director, FCT Development Control Department, TPL Bashir Madaki Sanusi, denied immediate knowledge of the alleged encroachment around the Usuma Dam, while emphasising that land use decisions in the Federal Capital Territory are subject to periodic review.

He said the department was not formally aware of the specific development in question but noted that planning processes in Abuja are dynamic and guided by continuous assessments.

He explained that the Abuja Master Plan is not rigid and can be reviewed to reflect changing realities such as population growth and evolving urban needs.

“We are planners, and planning is not static. The Master Plan is not sacrosanct; it is subject to review from time to time. What may be appropriate for a location today may no longer be suitable tomorrow,” he said.

The official added that land use reviews, which were previously conducted over longer periods, are now carried out more frequently due to increasing development pressure in the FCT.

According to him, instances exist where residential areas have been converted to commercial use following observable trends and demand patterns, stressing that such decisions are often backed by planning considerations.

On the reported activities around the dam, he advised that a formal complaint be submitted to enable the department carry out a proper investigation.

“If there is any concern about what is happening there, it should be put in writing to the director for necessary action. That will allow us to verify and respond appropriately,” he said.

He reiterated that while planning authorities remain responsive to emerging developments, all changes must still follow due process and institutional procedures.