ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Friday condemned the arrest of city planning officials by the Nigeria Police Force following the demolition of 11 duplexes in Abuja’s Apo-Dutse District.
The buildings, constructed by the police under high-tension power lines and across stream channels, were torn down by the FCT Development Control Department for violating safety and environmental regulations.
Wike, visibly angered during a site visit, described the police action as a “brazen abuse of power” and warned that no institution is above the law. “Government is here to enforce rules, not to break them,” he said
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According to Wike, the police had applied for development approval in 2018 for Plot 189, Cadastral Zone B14, but were denied due to the land’s proximity to transmission lines and a proposed flood-control bridge.
Despite repeated warnings and formal notices, construction proceeded. The minister said the arrest of enforcement officials who carried out the demolition was unacceptable and vowed to escalate the matter to higher authorities.
Wike expressed concern over the safety risks posed by the structures, noting that occupancy could have led to catastrophic loss of life. “One spark, and hundreds of lives would be lost,” he said.
He pledged that the FCT Administration would continue to uphold planning laws, regardless of the status or influence of violators, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserving Abuja’s masterplan.
Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, who accompanied Wike, said the department had clearly communicated its refusal to grant approval, citing engineering assessments and environmental hazards.
Galadima revealed that the police ignored official correspondence and proceeded with excavation and construction. He said enforcement officials were detained by police until Wike intervened.
The demolition, carried out Thursday, serves as a warning to developers who flout regulations. Authorities say future violations will attract not only property loss but also legal consequences.
