Flooding in Abuja has triggered a fresh crackdown, with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike ordering the removal of buildings blocking waterways.
Wike gave the directive after inspecting flood-hit areas in Maitama and other parts of the capital.
He said demolition would begin immediately and continue until Saturday, regardless of the owners’ political influence.
The minister said some affected properties reportedly belong to senators and wealthy Nigerians.
However, he insisted that no property owner would receive special treatment during the Abuja floodingresponse.
“Any house built on a water channel will be demolished. Heaven will not fall.”
Wike said structures built across planned water channels had worsened the impact of heavy rainfall.
He also blamed blocked drains, poor waste disposal and weak enforcement of planning rules.
According to him, officials found properties built on areas reserved for stormwater channels.
“We will demolish all those houses found on the
water channel. Some of them are senators. Some of them are big men,” Wike said.
He added that political events would not stop the planned action.
“Whether there’s election or there’s no election, all those houses will go down. Heaven will not fall. Rather, heaven will be at peace that the right thing has been done.”
The minister also ordered the immediate clearing of blocked drainage systems across affected areas.
Wike acknowledged that climate change may have contributed to the unusual rainfall.
However, he stressed that human activities were also worsening Abuja flooding.
“We are in a climate change period. The kind of rains we have experienced, or we are experiencing now, we have not experienced before. But that is not that there are no man-made factors. There are,” the minister said.
Finally, He urged residents and traders to stop dumping refuse into drainage channels.
