Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has suspended a director in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over unauthorised "temporary approvals" issued to commercial operators on designated green areas in Abuja . The suspension, announced during a media parley on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, signals a major escalation in the FCTA's enforcement efforts following recent flooding that submerged parts of the city .
Wike disclosed that the director was penalised under civil service rules after an investigation revealed that "temporary approvals" were granted for commercial operations on green zones, which are prohibited by government policy . In a stern warning to other officials, the Minister stated that "Government policy is that nobody should do anything on green areas" and that approvals obtained through undue influence "will not be accepted" . He also revealed that another official had faced disciplinary action for illegally reallocating park lands under the guise of security clearance .
The suspension comes amid heightened public scrutiny over the recurring flooding crisis in Abuja, particularly along the Airport Road axis and in the Lugbe and Lokogoma areas . Heavy rainfall in late August 2026 caused severe flooding, with reports of vehicles submerged and residents trapped . While the Minister acknowledged the intensity of the rainfall, he maintained that the flooding was largely man-made, caused by the blockage of waterways and decades of violations of the Abuja Master Plan .
"My studies have shown that Lugbe has always been violating the Abuja masterplan. All over the years, you see people building without approval and blocking where is supposed to be a roadway," Wike stated . He directed a high-level task force, led by the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Director of Development Control, to conduct on-the-ground assessments across communities affected by the flooding . The administration has also intensified its demolition of structures found on water channels and green areas .
The suspension follows an August 18, 2026, order banning the use of green areas, parks, and gardens as car dealership lots, a directive aimed at managing flooding and protecting the Abuja Master Plan . As part of that earlier order, Wike directed an investigation into civil servants allegedly responsible for granting illegal approvals for the conversion of green areas into commercial spaces . The affected directors from the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Environmental Protection, Traffic Management, and Urban Affairs were summoned by the FCT Head of Service .
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