FCTA Begins Demolition of Structures Built on Abuja Waterways
By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has started demolishing houses and other structures erected on designated waterways across Abuja.
The enforcement exercise began in Maitama on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, following a directive from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Officials of the FCTA deployed heavy-duty equipment to remove some of the structures identified as obstructing water channels.
Wike gave the directive after inspecting areas affected by flash floods that swept through parts of the Federal Capital Territory after heavy rainfall on Saturday.
The minister blamed the severity of the flooding partly on buildings constructed on waterways and warned that the status of property owners would not prevent the removal of illegal structures.
“We will demolish all those houses found on the water channel. Some of them are senators. Some of them are big men,” Wike said.
He said the demolition exercise would continue from Tuesday to Saturday.
The minister also ordered the immediate desilting of drainage channels identified across the FCT as part of measures to reduce the risk of further flooding.
The recent flooding affected several parts of Abuja, including Maitama, Wuse 2, Gudu and Lokogoma, where residents were stranded and vehicles were submerged.
According to Wike, the flooding resulted from both natural and human factors. He identified construction on waterways, blocked drainage systems and indiscriminate disposal of waste as some of the factors that worsened the situation.
The FCT Administration said it would strengthen enforcement of development regulations to prevent structures from blocking the natural flow of stormwater.