Abuja Stakeholders Demand Update to 1979 Master Plan

The FCT Stakeholders Forum for Development is demanding an urgent review and modernization of the 1979 Abuja Master Plan to address the city's current demographic and infrastructural needs. During a press conference in Abuja, the forum, which represents landlords, business owners, and investors, argued that the existing plan is outdated and fails to reflect the realities of a population that now exceeds 3.5 million people.

The demand follows recent flooding that submerged homes and disrupted livelihoods. The forum identified rapid urban expansion, indiscriminate waste disposal, and the removal of drainage covers by scavengers as primary causes of the inundation. While the group noted that these challenges predate the current administration, they urged the government to prioritize flood control through the desilting of drainage channels and stricter enforcement of planning regulations to prevent encroachment on waterways.

Despite these criticisms of the city's planning, the forum passed a vote of confidence in FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, praising his aggressive infrastructure projects. The group called on the FCT Administration to ensure that future development projects follow due process to avoid further hardship for residents.