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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