Urban planning experts have raised fresh concerns over persistent violations of land-use regulations in Abuja, warning that continued disregard for development control laws threatens the integrity of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Master Plan.
Citing provisions of Sections 47 to 63 of the Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Law, town planners note that enforcement powers are clearly vested in Development Control Departments, with statutory authority to issue stop-work orders, quit notices and demolition directives for unauthorised or dangerous developments. These measures, experts argue, are essential to preventing encroachment on public infrastructure, resolving land disputes and maintaining orderly urban growth.
Despite the legal framework, compliance has remained uneven, particularly among influential property owners. Planning professionals say violations are often driven by personal interest and unchecked privilege, creating pressure on infrastructure and public services. Abuja’s population was initially projected at about 3.1 million, with residential density controls designed to ensure sustainability. However, widespread overdevelopment of plots has contributed to overcrowding and overstretched utilities in several districts of the city.
Former development control officers recount years of resistance, intimidation and hazards encountered while carrying out enforcement duties, especially in high-value districts such as the Central Area. In several documented cases, plots designated for public infrastructure were illegally annexed by adjoining private developments, prompting stop-work notices and demolition orders that were later contested through political influence.
One such case involved a hotel owner who repeatedly defied enforcement actions despite multiple notices. Although senior officials within the Development Control Department upheld the legality of enforcement decisions, the matter became prolonged after the developer gained political leverage. The dispute reportedly persisted for years, highlighting how elite interference can undermine regulatory institutions.
Planning professionals say such experiences are not isolated. Comparable confrontations reportedly involved former top public office holders, including heads of service and senior security officials, reinforcing concerns that status often shields violators from accountability. Advocates of stronger urban governance argue that failure to enforce development regulations uniformly risks turning parts of Abuja into informal settlements, contrary to the city’s original design.
The renewed debate comes amid a broader enforcement drive by the FCT Administration under Minister Nyesom Wike, who has repeatedly vowed that no individual or institution would be exempt from land-use regulations. Analysts say consistent enforcement, free from political interference, remains critical to preserving Abuja’s planning ideals and preventing what they describe as the “vanity of land abuse” in the nation’s capital.
