By Sarah NEGEDU
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished Boulevard Park in Maitama over violations of park policy and breaches of the Abuja Master Plan.
Director of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, said the space, originally allocated for recreation, had been completely misused, noting that no single recreational facility existed on the premises.
The director who was represented by Dr. Sherif Razak, an assistant director at the department, said that the park has been converted to worship centres and restaurants.
“What’s happening here is an enforcement exercise to clean up infractions observed within this park. Specifically, Boulevard Park has violated the park policy. When you look around, you cannot pinpoint a single recreational facility, even though it is designated as a recreational park. Instead, the park is simply overbuilt,” Razak said.
Officials also discovered that the park harbored people of questionable character, raising both security and environmental concerns for the surrounding residential neighborhood.
On whether due process was followed before the demolition, Galadima assured that notices were served, and a grace period was granted for occupants to remove their belongings. “We are not here to destroy property. Enough time was given for them to salvage their goods before the enforcement exercise,” he added.
He confirmed that some individuals were living within the premises, which in itself is a violation of the park’s regulations. “As you can see, people are salvaging mattresses. We have documented evidence that the park was being used as a place of abode. This is a gross violation of the park policy and the Abuja Master Plan,” he stressed.
He also announced the technical revocation of the park allocation, adding that the administration may also recover the cost of the enforcement exercise in accordance with urban and regional planning regulations.
The director also disclosed plans by the FCTA to redefine and reassign parks in the city to serve their intended purpose.
“Previously, all parks were thematic in nature, some active, some passive. The administration has resolved to take them back and reassign them with appropriate themes, to be developed in line with global best practices. This will ensure residents of the city have proper recreational spaces,” Galadima said.
Galadimma therefore warned all residents and developers to stick with the land use specifications towards maintaining environmental sanity in the territory.
“Abuja has a master plan and regulations guiding development. The spirit of the master plan is to create a city where people can live, work, and recreate.”
