Fresh controversy has erupted over alleged violations of Abuja’s master plan following claims that a designated green area in Maitama Extension has been allocated for residential development.
Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, accused the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), under Minister Nyesom Wike, of approving the construction of about 20 duplexes on protected green land meant for environmental conservation.
Adeyanju alleged that the developers, after realising the estate had no approved access road, resorted to converting a natural canal into a roadway, a move he warned could trigger severe flooding and environmental damage.
In a statement shared with The Whistler on Friday, Adeyanju described the situation as an environmental disaster waiting to happen, particularly during the rainy season.
“I have just discovered that about 20 duplexes are being constructed on a designated green area in Maitama Extension,” he said.
“More alarming is the fact that the developers have now realised there is no access road to the estate and have resorted to converting a canal into a road.”
He warned that blocking or altering a natural water channel could expose residents of Maitama Extension to devastating floods.
“How do you fence off a green area and then proceed to turn a natural water channel into a road, all in the name of greed?” Adeyanju asked.
He further questioned how the project received approval from Development Control, describing the development as a clear distortion of the Abuja Master Plan.
“This is a blatant violation of the Abuja Master Plan. Wike allocated a green area to someone to build residential houses on it,” he alleged.
The Maitama Extension controversy adds to growing public criticism surrounding land allocations under the current FCT administration.
In recent months, several reports have accused the FCT minister of allocating prime land in high-value districts of Abuja to political associates and linked entities, sparking allegations of nepotism and abuse of office.
However, Wike’s camp has consistently denied the claims. His media aide, Lere Olayinka, previously dismissed the allegations as politically motivated blackmail, insisting that no land was allocated to the minister’s children or cronies.
Olayinka also challenged critics to provide verifiable evidence, noting that some of the land size figures being circulated were unrealistic.
Wike has maintained that land revocations and reallocations under his administration were carried out in accordance with the law, as part of efforts to restore order to Abuja’s land administration system.
Nonetheless, Adeyanju warned that allowing residential construction on green areas and waterways could further erode public trust in urban planning authorities and expose residents to avoidable environmental risks.
When contacted for comment, Olayinka said he was out of the country and unable to obtain detailed information due to the ongoing strike affecting FCTA workers.
