By: Festus Adebayo
Abuja, Nigeria’s purpose-built capital, was designed to be a model of modern urban planning, a city defined not just by its grand boulevards and government structures, but also by the rich network of green areas strategically embedded across its landscape. These green belts and parks were more than ornamental; they were intended to serve as ecological buffers, beautification elements, and essential lungs for the fast-growing city.
But over the years, these lush green spaces have been severely degraded. What once stood as refreshing strips of nature now tell a story of negligence, abuse, and encroachment. Today, many of Abuja’s green areas have been overtaken by unapproved buildings, shanties, open markets, and indiscriminate refuse.
The story of Abuja’s green belt degradation is not new, but its consequences are becoming harder to ignore. The absence of these green buffers is already manifesting in increased urban heat, poor air quality, flooding due to blocked water pathways, and a general loss of biodiversity. What is more painful is that much of this destruction has happened in full public view, without meaningful intervention.
A walk around Garki, Wuse, Asokoro, and even parts of Maitama shows the same pattern areas originally demarcated as green zones now house makeshift kiosks, mechanic workshops, and even permanent buildings. It is a disturbing testament to a city slowly turning its back on its master plan.
Government failure is at the center of this decay. The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and other regulatory bodies have been too weak or unwilling to enforce the laws that protect these green zones. Environmental guidelines exist, but enforcement has been inconsistent and, in many cases, completely absent. Illegal structures are rarely pulled down, and offenders face little or no consequences.
Citizens too share the blame. Many have developed a culture of indifference to the city’s original design ethos. The proliferation of informal settlements and unauthorized use of public land for private business is often done with little regard for the collective good.
This is not just about aesthetics. Green spaces are essential to urban sustainability. They reduce pollution, provide shade, support mental health, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. For Abuja, a city aspiring to global standards, the current state of its green areas is nothing short of a crisis.
To reverse this dangerous trend, a coordinated effort is urgently needed.
The FCDA must be empowered legally and financially to reclaim encroached areas and restore them to their original purpose. This may include demolishing illegal structures, replanting trees, and partnering with environmental organizations to implement sustainable green infrastructure. Moreover, urban planning laws must be enforced with integrity, regardless of who is involved.
Equally important is the role of public awareness. Citizens must be educated about the value of green spaces, and civil society must play a more active role in monitoring and reporting violations. Green restoration should become a civic cause, one that involves schools, community groups, professional bodies, and the media.
It is time to recommit to the Abuja Master Plan. Abuja’s identity as a modern capital cannot be divorced from its green character. The longer the delay in addressing this issue, the harder and more expensive, it will become to reclaim what is lost.
In this regard, the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has continued to champion the call for the restoration and protection of Abuja’s green zones. HDAN has consistently advocated for sustainable urban planning, environmental accountability, and citizen engagement in preserving the natural character of our cities. Their voice and those of other stakeholders, must not only be heard but urgently acted upon.
The task of restoring Abuja’s green areas is not optional, it is essential. For our health, our environment, and our future, the time to act is now.The infrastructure minister must come on the rescue on this very important matter
