The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has removed over 30 structures at foundation stages at the River Park Estate for violating planning regulations.
The Administration said the affected developers went ahead with the construction, despite the withdrawal of lease agreements as recommendations by a ministerial committee that all undeveloped plots in the estate be reverted to the FCTA.
Recall that the Federal Capital Territory (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 Salman Dako-led committee while submitting its reports to the minister last week, explained that the revocation of the undeveloped plots was necessitated by the expiration and breach of the Development Lease Agreement, DLA on the affected plots in line with Clause 9.2 of the DLA.
The committee, however, directed that holders of previous “customary” titles whose plots fall within the River Park Estate boundaries 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 yesterday, said the action followed reports that developers were working day and night to beat the directive.
“About a week ago there was an event at the Honourable Minister’s office where two committees submitted their report. One of the committees was on issues surrounding the River Park Estate development. One of the recommendations being forwarded was that all undeveloped plots within the estates be reverted to FCT Administration.
“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, we serve them notices to stop work. This morning we came, we saw them working, that’s why we are removing the structures. The excavations and all those structures were put on ground.”
He disclosed that over 30 foundations had already been removed. “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,” he warned.
On claims that Paulo Homes was behind the development, Galadima said the matter would be clarified by the Legal Secretariat. “From the report submitted from the work of the committee, it’s like one, there was a development lease agreement which has already expired,” he explained.
He added that further illegal building would not be tolerated. “Over 30 foundations have been excavated, so we’re going to cover them all. Should there be an erection again, then there’s going to be removal again,” he said, noting that prosecution could follow.
“That’s why I said the Legal Secretariat is in the better position to know the next line of action. There could be prosecution.
Some residents hailed the government for the action as they claimed that the developers already blocked access to their homes.
An affected resident, Pastor Chimdi Obwe, who lives in the adjoining area, said he had been denied access to his home and had to suffer for it for long.
“I was stopped from accessing my house for a long time. Because of these things they are doing here, the exit they gave us, they suddenly blocked it. And you see my children, how we had to go through those kinds of corners.
My fence was demolished. Now I can’t go with my cars into my house, we all pack out. So that was the problem,” he lamented.
