Our Reporter, Abuja
Activist, Aisha Yesufu, has strongly criticised the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under Minister Nyesom Wike over what she described as the “commercialisation” of public green spaces in Abuja, warning that the development threatens the city’s environmental balance and inclusiveness.
In a statement on Tuesday, Yesufu condemned recent development agreements concerning Jabi Lake Park, arguing that the move prioritises private profit over public interest.
She described the concession of the park—one of Abuja’s few remaining free and open recreational spaces—as “unacceptable, irresponsible, and dangerous,” insisting that it undermines the original vision of the Federal Capital Territory as a city designed for all Nigerians.
“The recent agreements on Jabi Lake Park represent a clear attack on our shared spaces, our environment, and the rights of ordinary Nigerians,” she said.
“This is a place where families gather, children play, and small vendors earn a living without fear of exclusion.”
Yesufu warned that handing over such spaces to private entities would lead to the displacement of low-income residents and restrict access to areas previously open to the public.
She further stressed that Abuja’s master plan deliberately incorporated green areas to regulate temperature, manage stormwater, and maintain ecological stability, noting that such spaces are “not decoration, but critical infrastructure.”
The activist accused the FCTA of gradually eroding these protections through land monetisation policies, alleging that parks and waterfronts are increasingly being converted into private developments.
“Once public space becomes private property, the poor are pushed out and the elite takes over,” she said, adding that the trend risks turning the capital city into an exclusionary urban centre.
Yesufu also criticised what she described as a lack of oversight, claiming that decisions affecting the city’s environmental and social fabric are being taken without adequate public scrutiny.
Calling for collective action, she urged civil society groups, urban planners, and residents to resist what she termed the “silent takeover” of Abuja’s common assets.
“Abuja belongs to all of us, and we must defend it,” she declared.
