FCTA Demolishes Over 30 Illegal Foundations at Abuja’s River Park Estate

The enforcement operation, led by Mukhtar Galadima, FCTA Director of Development Control, targeted ongoing excavations and foundations in the Lugbe-area estate after intelligence revealed a rush to complete work in defiance of official directives. 

“Over 30 foundations have been excavated, so we’re going to backfill them all. Should there be any new construction, it will be removed again,” Galadima stated during the raid on Wednesday.

The action stems from an ad-hoc ministerial committee, chaired by Barr. Salman Dako and inaugurated by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on August 8, 2025, which recommended reverting all undeveloped plots to the FCTA due to breaches of the Development Lease Agreement (DLA). 

The panel cited expired agreements and violations of Clause 9.2, aimed at reasserting administrative control, while allowing compliant holders of “customary” titles to retain ownership if developments align with regulations.

Developers, including those linked to Paulo Homes, proceeded despite the lease withdrawals, prompting the swift response. Galadima noted that the legal secretariat is reviewing potential prosecutions, emphasizing that only valid titles and compliant projects will be tolerated.

Local residents, already grappling with the fallout, voiced frustration over the disruptions. Pastor Chimdi Obwe, a nearby homeowner, accused Paulo Homes of blocking access roads and damaging adjacent properties, exacerbating hardships in the community. 

“This has made life unbearable for us,” Obwe lamented, highlighting the broader impact on families caught in the crossfire.

The FCTA has vowed to sustain the clampdown, signaling a broader push under Wike’s administration to curb illegal land use and restore order to Abuja’s urban landscape.