The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has officially launched an investigation into the recent severe flooding along the The post FCTA begins investigation into Airport road, Lokogoma flooding incident appeared first on Tribune Online .
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has officially launched an investigation into the recent severe flooding along the Airport Road axis and Lokogoma District to determine the root causes and implement lasting solutions.
Speaking during his routine media chat on Wednesday, the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, revealed that a high-level task force led by the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Director of Development Control was immediately dispatched to conduct on-the-ground assessments across affected communities, including Lugbe and Lokogoma.
“When I heard of the incident, the Executive Secretary of the FCDA and the Director, Development Control had to go to the place, not only at the airport road but also in Lokogoma,” the Minister stated.
“The one that is man-made, we can solve the problem; the one that is natural, there is nothing we can do—it becomes a natural disaster. So, it’s something that we have to investigate”.
While acknowledging that recent torrential downpour in the nation’s capital has reached unprecedented levels, the Minister stressed that preliminary findings point to long-standing violations of the FCT masterplan, where structures have been erected across natural waterways and designated road corridors without valid approvals.
He vowed that the administration will take all necessary steps to correct abuse of the Abuja masterplan along the airport road axis and will not hesitate to bring down any structure found along waterways.
According to him, “From our studies, Lugbe has always been violating the Abuja masterplan… All over the years, you see people building without approval and blocking where is supposed to be a roadway. As an administration, we are not taking it lightly”.
Beyond structural enforcement, the Minister disclosed that the FCTA is also taking stern administrative action against officials within the administration who facilitate illegal encroachments into green areas and waterways.
He revealed that a government Director was recently suspended under civil service rules for issuing unauthorized “temporary approvals” to commercial operators on designated green zones, while another official faced disciplinary sanctions for illegally reallocating park lands under the guise of security clearing.
On allegations that some of the structures marked for demolition held prior government approvals, the Minister reiterated that illegal approvals obtained through undue influence would not serve as a shield against enforcement.
“You got approval to do something wrong, sometimes, it’s under influence. Government policy is that nobody should do anything on green areas. Now you go with the spirit that nothing will happen, and then when we come to enforce, you say you have approval. It is not going to be accepted,” he clarified.
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