The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has directed the immediate stoppage of the use of green areas, parks and gardens in the nation’s capital as car dealership lots, as stakeholders and the House of Representatives spokesman called for urgent action to address recurring flooding in Abuja.

🇳🇬 Here's What Happened

Wike, who expressed concern over the conversion of areas designated for recreation into car lots, directed the relevant authorities to ensure that all unauthorised use of such spaces was stopped.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister specifically decried the use of areas designated for parks and recreation as car dealerships.

“Minister, who decried the use of areas designated for parks and recreation like the Millennium Park and others as car lots, directed that all unauthorised use of such areas will be closely monitored to ensure compliance,” the statement said.

📌 Key Details

The statement added that the directive was part of efforts by the FCT Administration to address the flooding being experienced in some parts of the Federal Capital City.

It added that the minister had also directed an investigation into some civil servants allegedly responsible for granting illegal approvals for the use of green areas as car dealership lots.

“This is part of the efforts of the FCT Administration to manage flooding being experienced in some parts of the Federal Capital City.

“Consequently, a task force has been set up to enforce this directive.

“Also, the minister has directed the investigation of some civil servants responsible for granting illegal approvals authorising the use of green areas as car dealership lots,” the statement said.

Olayinka added that the affected officials, particularly directors in the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Environmental Protection, Traffic Management and Urban Affairs, had been summoned by the FCT Head of Service, Nancy Sabanti Nathan.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria