No More Car Sales on FCT Green Spaces, Wike Warns

By Our Reporter

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that the Director of Development Control is being queried over alleged approvals granted to car dealers to operate on designated green areas.

Wike made this known during an inspection of green areas in Abuja, where he said he had stopped the practice and directed the establishment of a task force to ensure that car dealers vacate green areas across the FCT.
He stressed that areas designated as green spaces for recreation must not be converted into vehicle sales outlets.
“If you want to sell your car, you go and purchase somewhere, or rent somewhere, and then develop it. Not where you see green, you just go and start selling cars where it’s supposed to be a recreation park,” Wike said.
Speaking on the flooding recently experienced, the Minister also ordered the removal of structures obstructing natural waterways and directed a clampdown on car dealers operating on designated green areas.
He assured that the FCT Administration had commenced measures to address developments obstructing natural water channels.
Wike said the exercise would be extended to other areas affected by flooding, stressing that structures blocking drainage channels would be removed to restore the free flow of water.
According to him, once houses and other structures obstructing water channels are removed, affected areas will be able to discharge stormwater properly and reduce the risk of flooding.
The Minister maintained that the administration would enforce the directive regardless of who might be affected, noting that green areas must be preserved for their intended purposes.