By Adenike Lawal
The Federal Capital Territory Administration is moving swiftly to review the Usuma District master plan following rising concerns over possible contamination of Abuja’s vital water source, the Usuma Dam.
A site inspection led by the Department of Development Control has revealed alarming levels of unregulated development encroaching on the dam’s buffer zone, prompting urgent calls for action.
Tpl. Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control, said the inspection brought together key agencies to assess real-time threats.
“The risk is immediate. We may see heavy construction behind the dam within two years. If we wait, we lose,” he warned.
Galadima called on planning and water authorities to define strict safety zones and update existing layouts to meet current environmental and urban realities.
“If development must happen, it must follow enforceable rules,” he said.
Engr. Mohammed Danimoh of the FCDA added that the area’s sloped terrain makes it prone to water pollution through surface runoff.
He raised concerns about the financial and operational sustainability of proposed pumping-based sewage systems.
The visit also covered flood-prone Lokogoma where fresh warnings were issued to developers rebuilding on waterways.
“Those structures will go. We will not allow disasters to be rebuilt,” Galadima declared.
The FCTA’s intervention signals a renewed push for responsible urban growth and protection of public health in Nigeria’s capital.
