Wike orders immediate ban on car dealerships in Abuja green areas

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate cessation of the use of parks, gardens and other designated green areas in Abuja as car dealership lots.

The directive was announced on Wednesday by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, in a statement outlining measures to protect the capital’s green spaces and address environmental challenges, including flooding.

Wike expressed concern over the conversion of recreational and green spaces for commercial activities, particularly the use of portions of areas around Millennium Park for car dealerships.

The Minister directed relevant authorities to closely monitor all parks, gardens and other designated green areas across the FCT to ensure compliance and prevent further unauthorised commercial use.

Read Also:

Abuja floods: Wike gives demolition order, says action starts immediately

Mariya Bunkure empowers 44 APC women leaders with N100,000, attire each

FCT records 26,272 C-of-Os, up 17,575 from 2010 – 2023

He also approved the establishment of a task force to enforce the directive and ensure that green spaces are not converted for activities not permitted under their designated purposes.

FCTA Probes Alleged Illegal Approvals

Wike further directed an investigation into allegations that some civil servants were involved in granting approvals for the use of green areas as car dealership lots.

According to the statement, the affected officials, particularly Directors responsible for Parks and Recreation, Environmental Protection, Traffic Management and Urban Affairs, have been summoned by the FCT Head of Service, Nancy Sabanti Nathan.

The investigation is expected to establish how the affected areas were approved for use as car dealership lots and determine responsibility for any violations.

The FCT Administration said the measures were part of broader efforts to preserve Abuja’s environmental assets, maintain designated recreational spaces and strengthen compliance with urban planning regulations.