The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has halted the construction of more than 30 sub-structures in Abuja, citing violations of planning regulations.
According to the administration, the affected developers (River Park Estate) continued building despite the withdrawal of their lease agreements and recommendations from a ministerial committee that all undeveloped plots within the estate be reverted to the FCTA.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had on August 8, 2025, inaugurated an ad hoc committee on the review of controversies surrounding the River Park Estate.
The committee, however, directed that holders of previous “customary” titles whose plots fall within the River Park Estate boundaries and who have developed in accordance with applicable planning and development control regulations be permitted to retain their titles. This recommendation aligns with the subsisting court judgment referenced in paragraph 16.3.”
Meanwhile, the Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, who led enforcement officers to the site on Wednesday, said the action followed reports that the developers were working day and night to beat the directive.
According to him, “About a week ago, there was an event at the Honourable Minister’s office where two committees submitted their reports. One of the committees was on issues surrounding the River Park Estate development. And one of the recommendations was that all undeveloped plots within the estates be reverted back to FCTA.
“So we got a report that certain developers are hurriedly working day and night to see that they have developed some of the vacant plots. So what we do as an agency is we serve them notice to stop work. This morning we came, we saw them working, and that’s why we are removing the structures. The excavations and all those structures were put on ground.
“Whatever we see on site, we remove it. So this is just the beginning. Luckily, they are just at excavation level, but wherever we see any new development coming up, we will remove it.”