Maitama becomes first target as FCT Administration moves to reopen drainage channels and strengthen flood-control measures across the capital.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has begun the demolition of buildings obstructing waterways in Maitama, Abuja, in a major enforcement drive aimed at restoring drainage channels and reducing the risk of flooding across the nation’s capital.
The exercise, which began on Tuesday, follows a directive by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for structures built on or obstructing designated waterways across the territory to be removed.
The minister had announced that the demolition exercise would run from Tuesday to Saturday, warning owners of structures found on waterways that the government would proceed with their removal.
“Between today and Saturday, the buildings blocking the waterways will be brought down. We will demolish all the houses found on the water channels, and heaven will not fall,” Wike said.
Maitama becomes first enforcement zone
The commencement of the operation in Maitama signals the first phase of what is expected to be a wider crackdown across Abuja.
Authorities are expected to move into other parts of the FCT where buildings and other structures have been identified as encroaching on or obstructing designated waterways.
The focus on Maitama also places the issue of urban development and flood management under renewed scrutiny, particularly in parts of Abuja where construction has increasingly competed with natural and planned drainage routes.
Why the waterways matter
The FCT Administration maintains that structures built on drainage channels and waterways can obstruct the movement of stormwater, increasing the risk of flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.
Beyond the immediate flood threat, such developments can undermine Abuja’s broader urban planning framework by placing permanent structures where drainage infrastructure and water channels are expected to function.
The latest enforcement operation is therefore designed not only to remove buildings but also to reopen designated water channels and improve the movement of stormwater through the city.
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The FCT authorities have indicated that the Maitama operation will not be an isolated exercise.
Other locations where buildings and structures have been identified as obstructing waterways are expected to be targeted as the enforcement continues.
For the administration, the operation represents a test of how firmly the government can enforce planning regulations while addressing one of Abuja’s recurring urban challenges — keeping its drainage network free from obstruction.
As the demolition moves beyond Maitama, attention will now shift to the other districts where structures have been identified along waterways and whether the exercise can deliver a lasting improvement in flood management across the capital.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.