Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A coalition of rights groups, civil society organisations, the Federation of Informal Workers' Organisation of Nigeria, and other pressure groups on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, staged a peaceful protest at the Jabi Lake Recreational Park in Abuja, calling on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to protect the livelihoods of informal workers affected by the ongoing redevelopment of the facility.
The protesters said they were not opposed to the redevelopment of the park but urged the government to adopt a transparent process, consult stakeholders, and provide adequate compensation and social protection for traders and other informal workers facing displacement. The protest comes months after the FCTA, under the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in February 2026 with Akida Hills Ltd. and Suburban Broadband Limited to redevelop Jabi Lake Park as part of its urban renewal programme.
The administration has said the project is aimed at transforming the park into a world-class leisure and tourism destination capable of attracting investment, boosting tourism, and creating jobs. However, civil society organisations, environmental advocates, and informal workers have raised concerns over the transparency of the concession process, the absence of public consultation, and the impact of the redevelopment on hundreds of traders and small business owners who depend on the park for their livelihoods.
While the FCTA has maintained that the redevelopment is intended to improve the facility and unlock its economic potential, the protesting groups insist they are not opposed to the project itself but are demanding the publication of the MoU, disclosure of the procurement process, protection of public access to the park, and adequate compensation and social protection for affected informal workers.
Speaking during the protest, the Country Director of Accountability Lab Nigeria, Friday Odey, said those concerns informed the coalition's decision to mobilise. "We are not against the development of this park. We are saying there should be a social protection plan for the informal workers. They have a right to be consulted because this park has been their source of livelihood for many years," he said. Odey said the coalition was also demanding the publication of the MoU signed between the FCTA and the developers. "Everybody has a right to know. Nigerians have the right to know. Publish the Memorandum of Understanding so citizens can understand what has been agreed and engage in an informed conversation," he said.
He also questioned the procurement process that led to the award of the redevelopment project. "We did not see evidence of a transparent procurement process before the park was handed over. That is why we have asked the relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate the process," he added. According to him, the coalition had submitted several Freedom of Information requests to the FCTA seeking details of the agreement but had yet to receive a response.
Also speaking, Blessing Yusuf of the Federation of Informal Workers' Organisation of Nigeria said the coalition was demanding an immediate suspension of demolition and construction activities until consultations were held with affected stakeholders. "Our demand is the immediate suspension of all demolition, fencing and construction works until there is full public consultation, legal review and transparency around the project," she said. Yusuf also called for the publication of the MoU, an independent Environmental Impact Assessment before further work proceeds, guarantees that the park will remain affordable and accessible to the public, and compensation for traders and small business owners displaced by demolition and fencing activities.
The protest comes amid growing controversy over the redevelopment of one of Abuja's few remaining public recreational spaces. In May 2026, the Housing Justice Movement accused the FCTA of attempting to illegally privatise Jabi Lake Park through what it described as a secretive luxury tourism project that threatens the livelihoods of hundreds of ordinary residents, traders, and small business owners. The movement alleged that the FCTA signed a MoU with private firms on February 13, 2026, to convert the Jabi Lake Waterfront into a luxury tourism destination.
The controversy has also drawn reactions from prominent figures. Activist Aisha Yesufu condemned the concession of the park, describing it as "unacceptable, irresponsible, and dangerous," and warning that handing over such spaces to private entities would lead to the displacement of low-income residents and restrict access to areas previously open to the public. Similarly, Pastor Sarah Omakwu of the Family Worship Centre made a viral emotional appeal to Minister Wike, kneeling in her church to beg that the Jabi Lake Recreation Centre not be given away.
Minister Wike has defended the redevelopment, stating that the government revoked the allocation from a company that held it for 15 years without development and that the new arrangement would be strictly monitored. "When I came on board, I discovered that Jabi Lake had been given to one company for 15 or 16 years without any development. They said they wanted to invest and turn it into an entertainment centre, but when you go there, you see shanties. I went there myself and said, 'This cannot continue,'" he said. He also dismissed emotional appeals, stating: "To the woman who was crying, if she likes, let her call God to come down. What is my business?"
As the redevelopment moves forward, the coalition has vowed to continue its advocacy, demanding transparency, accountability, and protection for the livelihoods of those who depend on Jabi Lake for their survival.
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