Nyesom Wike Bans Car Dealerships From Abuja Green Areas

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike ordered the immediate removal of car dealerships operating in designated green areas, parks, and recreational spaces across Abuja on August 19, 2026. The directive specifically targets the unauthorized use of recreation sites, including Millennium Park, to enforce the Abuja Master Plan and mitigate flooding caused by commercial conversions of these spaces.

Wike established a task force to enforce the removals and stated that the action would be applied regardless of the status or influence of the affected parties. He told dealers, "If you want to sell your car, you go and purchase somewhere, or rent somewhere, and then develop it," and emphasized that the administration "will not accept that again."

Parallel to the removals, the minister initiated investigations into civil servants who allegedly granted illegal approvals for the car lots. FCT Head of Service Nancy Sabanti Nathan summoned directors from the departments of Parks and Recreation, Environmental Protection, Traffic Management, and Urban Affairs for questioning. The Director of Development Control was also queried as part of the probe into these unauthorized authorizations.