Wike Orders Demolition Of Houses Blocking Abuja Waterways

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the demolition of properties obstructing waterways and drainage channels in Maitama, Abuja, following the recent flooding that affected parts of the capital.

According to Ireporter Online, Wike issued the directive after inspecting flood-affected locations in Maitama, where he expressed concern over structures built across designated water channels.

The minister blamed the recent flooding in Maitama and other parts of Abuja partly on developments that have blocked natural waterways and drainage routes.

Wike warned property owners who had constructed buildings on water channels that the government would no longer tolerate such violations, regardless of whether previous rainfall had caused flooding in the affected areas.

He directed relevant authorities to commence the removal of the structures and said the demolition exercise should be completed before Saturday.

Wike said the government had previously warned against obstructing waterways, stressing that the absence of flooding in the past did not mean such structures were safe from future consequences.

He maintained that allowing buildings to remain on drainage channels could worsen flooding and endanger residents whenever there was heavy rainfall.

The minister’s directive followed heavy flooding recorded in parts of Abuja, which disrupted movement and affected properties and vehicles in several locations.

Meanwhile, Wike has also commented on the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could have used the full influence of the Federal Government to secure victory for the All Progressives Congress if he had chosen to do so.

Speaking on the political situation ahead of the 2027 general elections, the former Rivers State governor said the Osun election was not influenced by what he described as “federal might.”

Wike argued that the APC could have secured victory if the President had been determined to deploy the Federal Government’s political influence during the election.