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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate demolition of about 30 buildings allegedly encroaching on the Right of Way (RoW) of the Ring Road 3 corridor in Abuja.
Wike issued the directive yesterday during an inspection of ongoing road infrastructure projects linking Karsana District, Gwarinpa and the Kubwa axis.
The demolition is expected to clear the affected Right of Way and allow construction of Ring Road 3 and associated interchange infrastructure to proceed.
The minister expressed anger after officials drew his attention to structures located within the designated corridor of a major interchange.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Richard Dauda, who briefed the minister, said the affected buildings were within an area reserved for the Ring Road 3 infrastructure under the Abuja Master Plan.
Reacting to the discovery, Wike summoned officials of the Department of Development Control and directed them to commence demolition immediately.
“We’ll have to demolish this right now. Demolish the building down,” the minister ordered.
Expressing disbelief that structures could have been allowed to emerge within the designated corridor, Wike said: “How can it be like this? It’s even a road, it’s not even a layout—it’s an interchange, the leg.”
The minister said the directive was part of the FCT Administration’s renewed effort to enforce the Abuja Master Plan and prevent private developments from obstructing major public infrastructure projects.
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At the project site, Dauda told journalists that construction of the second bridge along the corridor had progressed despite the rocky terrain.
“Here is rocky; there’s no piling, so they’ve already started the foundation. It won’t delay, so bridge works will continue,” he said.
Dauda explained that the Ring Road 3 corridor runs through Karsana District and connects the area to Kubwa Road, also known as the Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX), and extends towards Airport Road.
“This is Karsana District now, with all the estates,” he said, adding that Ring Road 3 would connect to the planned flyover before continuing towards Airport Road.
“To this side is Kubwa Road—the Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX)—and this is now the corridor of Ring Road 3 up to Airport Road,” Dauda said.
He further explained that the flyover would terminate at the location, from where Ring Road 3 would continue along its designated alignment.
“It’s where the flyover here will terminate, and then Ring Road 3, when it comes, will continue this way,” he added.
The discovery of the encroachments has raised concerns over development control in the FCT, particularly the emergence of private structures along corridors reserved for major public infrastructure.
Wike, however, said such developments would not be allowed to frustrate government projects, insisting that the integrity of the Abuja Master Plan must be protected.
