FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has ordered the immediate demolition of houses built on designated water channels in Maitama and other flood-prone areas of Abuja.
Wike issued the directive on Tuesday after inspecting areas affected by recent flooding, saying the demolition would continue until Saturday regardless of the status of the property owners or ongoing political activities.
“We will demolish all those houses found on the water channel. Some of them are senators. Some of them are big men,” Wike said.
He blamed the flooding partly on buildings constructed on waterways, blocked drainage systems, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and failure to properly desilt drainage channels.
The minister also directed the immediate desilting of identified drainage systems and warned that social status would not shield anyone from enforcement.
“I’m going to bring those houses down. Any house that’s found on the water channel will go down,” he said.
