The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate demolition of houses and other structures built on designated water channels in Abuja, warning property owners against obstructing waterways provided for in the city’s master plan.

Wike issued the directive on Tuesday during a press briefing at his office following an inspection of areas affected by the heavy flooding that swept through parts of the Federal Capital Territory over the weekend.

The minister said the inspection revealed that some property owners had deliberately or negligently blocked waterways and drainage channels designated for the free movement of stormwater under the Abuja Master Plan.

According to him, the recent flooding had exposed the dangers associated with building on waterways and ignoring approved development plans.

Wike said the government could no longer allow structures that interfere with natural or planned water channels to remain in place, stressing that the demolition exercise would be carried out regardless of the social or political status of the owners.

He explained that officials discovered during the inspection that some developers and property owners had constructed buildings on areas specifically reserved as channels for water movement.

“And certainly, we have gone there, and we have seen how people have blocked channels where in the master plan, that is the right way where a channel is supposed to be. People, by their positions, have blocked it, believing that nothing will happen,” the minister said.

Wike maintained that the absence of flooding in previous years should not be interpreted as evidence that a structure built on a water channel was safe or legally acceptable.

He said the recent flooding had demonstrated the consequences of obstructing waterways and provided the government with an opportunity to identify and address the problem.

The minister declared that all buildings found to be situated directly on designated water channels would be pulled down.

“I have told people this in life: that nothing happened yesterday does not mean that something will not happen today. That it did not happen today does not mean that it will not happen tomorrow,” he said.

“Now you have done your own by blocking the water channel, and nothing has happened. Thank God the flood has come; it has drawn our attention to the place. Now, something will happen. I am going to bring those houses down. Any house that falls on the water channel will go down.”

Wike further directed the FCT Development Control Department to commence action immediately, giving the agency until Saturday to identify and deal with structures found to be obstructing waterways.

He warned officials against making excuses or delaying enforcement.

“From today to Saturday, if Development Control likes, let them find any excuses. If they like, let them find excuses—too bad. They can’t. We will demolish all those houses found on the water channel,” he stated.

The minister’s directive comes amid growing concerns over flooding and its impact on residents, infrastructure and property within the nation’s capital.

Flooding in urban areas is often worsened by inadequate drainage, blocked waterways, poor waste disposal and construction on flood-prone areas. Wike’s latest position suggests that the FCT Administration intends to take a more aggressive approach to enforcing development regulations.

He also dismissed concerns that the demolition exercise could be influenced by the political status of property owners.

Wike said some of the affected property owners were influential individuals, including serving senators and other prominent Nigerians, but insisted that their positions would not shield them from enforcement.

“Some of them are Senators, some of them are big men,” he said, warning against attempts to politicise the exercise.

The minister also anticipated that some politicians could attempt to portray the demolitions as politically motivated, particularly during an election period.

“The next thing you’ll see is campaigns now: ‘Oh, why is he doing this during the election?’ That is the next campaign you will see now. Stop it! We have finished elections. Where is the election? There is no election. All those houses will go down,” Wike said.

He insisted that the government’s responsibility was to enforce planning regulations and protect residents from the consequences of activities that could endanger lives and property.

Wike argued that allowing buildings to remain on designated waterways simply because their owners were politically influential would amount to a failure of government responsibility.

The minister’s comments also underline the importance of adherence to the Abuja Master Plan, which provides guidelines for land use, road networks, drainage systems, residential development and other aspects of urban planning in the capital.

He said structures that violate the plan, particularly those that interfere with the movement of water, cannot be allowed to remain merely because they have existed for some time.

The directive is expected to put property owners and developers across the FCT on notice as authorities intensify efforts to tackle flooding and enforce planning regulations.

Wike concluded by defending the decision to remove structures obstructing waterways, saying that enforcing the law would ultimately serve the public interest.

“Heaven will not fall; rather, heaven will fall if the right thing has not been done,” he said.

The FCT Administration is now expected to begin identifying structures located on designated water channels, with the Development Control Department facing a Saturday deadline to commence enforcement.

The planned demolition could affect several property owners, but the minister has made it clear that political influence, wealth or social standing will not prevent the government from removing buildings deemed to be obstructing Abuja’s waterways.