Onoh Raises Concerns Over Conversion of Abuja Green Areas

The former southeast spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chairman of forum of former members of Enugu State House of Assembly, Denge. Josef Onoh, has alleged that most portions of the FCT green areas have been converted to residential and commercial plots. Onoh expressed reservations against the ongoing, systematic, and unprecedented conversion of Abuja’s […]

The former southeast spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chairman of forum of former members of Enugu State House of Assembly, Denge. Josef Onoh, has alleged that most portions of the FCT green areas have been converted to residential and commercial plots.

Onoh expressed reservations against the ongoing, systematic, and unprecedented conversion of Abuja’s designated green areas into private residential estates, hotels, shopping plazas, and other commercial developments under Minister Wike.

Onoh stated that the Abuja Master Plan of 1979 is a visionary, internationally acclaimed blueprint conceived by experts from International Planning Associates (IPA) and refined by renowned architect Kenzo Tange, designed to create a modern, neutral, orderly, and environmentally balanced federal capital.

He noted that the planners of FCT explicitly reserved approximately one-third (about 33%) of the Federal Capital Territory’s – 8,000 km² landmass as green belts, parks, buffer zones, open spaces, and ecological corridors.

“These areas were intended to regulate urban temperature in our savannah climate, serve as natural carbon sinks, mitigate flooding through preserved drainage pathways, improve air quality, support biodiversity, and provide essential recreational spaces for residents. This ‘garden city’ approach drew inspiration from global models like Brasília and Chandigarh while adapting to Nigeria’s context, ensuring Abuja’s growth as one of Africa’s most planned and livable capitals.

“Tragically, this administration marks the first in the history of the FCT to systematically abuse and undermine the Abuja Master Plan on such a massive scale. Hence i call on Mr. President to direct the immediate revocation of all affected green areas and open spaces affected,” Onoh asked President Tinubu.

He stated that since 2023, encroachments have intensified in districts including Guzape (flood-prone valleys converted), Maitama (green belts fenced for estates), Wuse (parks to commercial plots), Katampe (utility corridors built over), Kado, and others.

He said that compliance with green space zoning is estimated at only about 60%, with 40% non-compliance driven by illegal developments, deforestation, and allocations that violate the plan’s core principles. Per capita green space has plummeted below 4 m² per resident — far short of the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of 9 m² — transforming our once-green capital into a concrete jungle and risking total erosion of urban parks if unchecked.

Onoh further said that the environmental damages are profound, irreversible in the short term, and accelerating global warming impacts loss of vegetation with intensified urban heat island effects (projected 2–4°C local temperature rise), reduces carbon sequestration, heightens flood risks (evident in recent rainy season incidents in Asokoro, Guzape, and Wuse), worsens air pollution, threatens biodiversity, and advances desertification in our vulnerable savannah region.

“These actions directly contradict Nigeria’s commitments as a signatory to the Paris Agreement and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s strong leadership on climate action — including the Presidential Climate Action Committee, net-zero ambitions by 2060, and enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions.

For Abuja residents, Onoh warned that the consequences are immediate and severe: hotter living conditions, increased respiratory and heat-related health issues, frequent flooding displacing thousands, diminished recreational and community spaces, declining quality of life, and economic strains from property value drops in flood-prone areas and reduced investor confidence.

He further revealed that projections warn of higher adaptation costs, agricultural productivity declines (10–25% by 2080 nationally), and cumulative climate inaction burdens reaching $100–460 billion by 2050 (6–30% of GDP).

“This reckless approach stands in stark contrast to responsible urban governance I championed elsewhere and to exemplary models across Africa. As the immediate past Commissioner and Executive Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA)— an agency modeled 100% after the FCDA — I focused on restoring Enugu’s colonial era -1924 master plan, which similarly emphasized green belts and open spaces for livability.

“Under my leadership during Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration, we enforced compliance rigorously: violators — including those encroaching on green areas as far back as 1971 — lost their developments through demolitions and restorations. We reclaimed parks, cleared illegal structures, and preserved the city’s green heritage, laying the foundation for sustained progress.

“These efforts were acknowledged and built upon, culminating in Enugu State winning the N100 million Model Green State Award in September 2025 as Nigeria’s cleanest state under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Green Nigeria Challenge, presented by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

“The award recognized Enugu’s outstanding environmental cleanliness, tree coverage, sanitation, and proactive leadership — a national benchmark that proves prioritizing green areas yields recognition, sustainability, and improved resident well-being which the Peter Mbah administration is also heavily focused in achieving in the spirit of continuity.

“Abuja’s current trajectory is particularly regrettable when compared to other African capitals that have excelled in preserving and expanding urban green spaces — serving as inspiring models of what is attainable with committed leadership:

e cannot squander Abuja’s green heritage for short-term gains.

I urgently call on the Federal Government, National Assembly, civil society, stakeholders, and all patriotic Nigerians to intervene: halt these conversions immediately, conduct a comprehensive audit of Master Plan compliance, revoke unlawful allocations, and prioritize restoration of green spaces. Enugu’s success — and the shining examples from Nairobi, Kigali, Cape Town, and beyond — show that green-focused leadership delivers results. Abuja, our national pride, deserves nothing less.

Nigeria’s fight against climate change must be consistent, starting from the capital. Let us protect Abuja’s original vision for our people, our planet, and our posterity.