The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared a total crackdown on unauthorised car dealerships operating in Abuja’s designated green areas, warning that defaulting vehicles would be impounded, auctioned, and their locations permanently shut down.
Mr Wike made the declaration on Saturday after inspecting some ongoing projects in Abuja. He expressed deep frustration over the illegal conversion of public parks and green belts into commercial auto marts, saying, “Parks have now turned to where they sell vehicles.”
Corrupt civil servants blamed for fraudulent allocations
The minister blamed the development largely on corrupt elements within the civil service who issued fraudulent allocation papers to unauthorised operators without ministerial approval. “Before you know it, they’ve given out allocation papers to people to turn the green areas into where they will be selling vehicles,” he said.
He noted that development control approvals are not handled by the minister but by departments and agencies of government. “Even when you talk about development control, the minister is not the one who gives approval for building. These things are done by departments and agencies of government. But until it comes to our notice, then you see whether we will take action or not,” he added.
Task force set up to enforce compliance
Now fully aware of the widespread violations, Mr Wike announced that the FCT Administration had established a specialised task force to enforce immediate compliance and restore the city’s original master plan. “As this has come to our notice, we’ve set up a task force. If you don’t leave the green area, we’ll carry your vehicles. In fact, maybe we will auction them,” he warned.
He reiterated the administration’s resolve: “So, any vehicle we find in designated green areas, we will impound those vehicles, we’ll shut the place down. So, that is what we are going to do. Just give us time.”
Imminent enforcement and accountability
The minister said the directive signals imminent enforcement to clear illegal park conversions and hold rogue government officials accountable. The announcement follows a recent flood incident in Abuja, where Mr Wike also vowed to demolish houses blocking water channels.
The FCT Administration is expected to begin the enforcement exercise in the coming weeks, targeting all green areas currently occupied by unauthorised vehicle dealers across the territory.
