Residents of Wuse Zone 6 in Abuja have sounded the alarm over the rapid destruction of designated green areas in their neighbourhood, warning of severe environmental and infrastructural consequences if unchecked construction continues.
Speaking during a protest last Thursday, Chairman of the Wuse Zone 6 Neighbourhood Residents Association, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga, said the green spaces were deliberately preserved in Abuja’s Master Plan to serve dual purposes, providing greenery and protecting underground utility corridors.
“Already, residents of Wuse Zone 6 are facing the environmental menace of burst water pipes, blocked sewer lines, and contamination with sewer materials.
“There is hardly any street in Wuse Zone 6 that does not have sewer lines bleeding onto the streets, making them very smelly and unsightly,” Soaga said.
He warned that the outbreak of water-borne diseases was imminent, citing the built-up estate on the former Julius Berger Park as a major contributor to the crisis.
He added that experts say the consequences of building on these lands include water shortages, sewage leaks, flooding, and reduced air quality.
“Green spaces are not empty land for sale. They are lifelines. Building on them puts the entire community in danger.”
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The residents also expressed concern over the loss of recreational spaces and the strain on roads, drainage systems, and power supply due to overdevelopment.
Notable sites under construction, according to them, include Julius Berger Park, Gilmor Gardens on Rabat Street, and the garden at Tunis/Bissau junction.
“These areas sit atop underground sewage and water pipelines. Building on them could be catastrophic,” Soaga added.
The association urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Development Control authorities to enforce the Abuja Master Plan and halt further development on green zones to protect public health and infrastructure. [Daily Trust]
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