A growing wave of residential and commercial construction is increasingly encroaching on Abuja’s designated green spaces, raising fresh concerns about the long-term environmental health of Nigeria’s capital city.

Despite Abuja’s Master Plan mandating large green buffers, parks and open zones for drainage, air quality and ecological balance, several districts — including Wuse, Asokoro and Guzape — are witnessing the conversion of legally protected green areas into new housing estates and private developments.

Urban planners warn that the trend threatens Abuja’s identity as a planned, environmentally balanced capital. Experts say unchecked construction reduces natural drainage channels, increases urban heat levels, strains water and power systems, and pushes the city closer to recurrent flooding.

Legal experts also question the authority to reassign public green areas, which fall under the FCT Parks and Gardens Agency established by Federal Government Gazette. Some ongoing projects, they argue, may be violating existing court orders and development control regulations.

Environmental groups are calling on the FCT Administration to review recent allocations, halt further encroachment and restore green spaces where possible.

They insist Abuja’s sustainability depends on strict adherence to the original Master Plan rather than short-term revenue interests.

As Nigeria’s capital continues to expand, stakeholders warn that the loss of green infrastructure could inflict long-term ecological and social damage and undermine the city’s livability for future generations.

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Abuja’s green spaces  the parks, open fields, and natural reserves that give the city its scenic beauty  are disappearing at an alarming rate.

Fresh findings show widespread encroachment on these protected areas in some of the capital’s most exclusive districts, including Guzape, Maitama, Wuse, Katampe, Kado, and the Central Business District.

Many of the spaces, originally marked for recreation, conservation, and environmental balance under the 1979 Abuja Master Plan, are now being converted into residential buildings, commercial outlets, and other developments.

Experts warn that these violations extend beyond green spaces. Waterways, drainage channels, and power line corridors are also being obstructed, raising the risk of flooding, health hazards, and infrastructural breakdowns.

“This is a disaster in waiting,” an urban planner told reporters. “Green areas exist to protect the environment, prevent flooding, and keep the city livable. Ignoring the master plan will put residents at risk.”

Concerned residents have called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to enforce the Abuja Master Plan, stop illegal constructions, and restore affected areas before irreversible damage is done.

Source: Daily Trust

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