Abuja: The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has urged the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to review the Abuja Master Plan without compromising designated parks and green areas. The President of REDAN, Oba Akintoye Adeoye, made the appeal in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Adeoye, the paramount ruler of the Okeigbo community in Ondo State, also advocated the redevelopment of low-density neighbourhoods in the FCT into high-rise buildings as an alternative to encroaching on parks and environmentally sensitive areas. He stated that redevelopment has enabled many cities around the world to accommodate growing populations while preserving their green spaces and environmental heritage.
In areas dominated by low-rise buildings, Adeoye suggested demolishing them and replacing them with high-rise structures to accommodate more people. He emphasized that parks should be treated as legac
y infrastructure, which should remain untouched, as they are part of the ecosystem essential for maintaining environmental balance.
The REDAN president highlighted the dynamic nature of master plans, noting that they should be reviewed whenever necessary to address emerging urban development challenges and improve city growth. However, he cautioned against altering designated parks and green areas, describing them as essential environmental assets that should be preserved despite increasing urban development pressure.
Adeoye questioned the rationale behind encroaching on parks, urging that if the motive is due to a lack of land, then such actions should be reconsidered. He proposed that cities should expand by developing infrastructure in new areas rather than converting parks and green spaces into residential or commercial developments. Governments, he suggested, should extend roads, electricity, water supply, and transportation infrastructure to undeveloped areas to accommodate population growth without d
estroying environmental assets.
The traditional ruler reiterated that while the Abuja Master Plan could be reviewed to address emerging development challenges, authorities must ensure that such reviews do not affect designated parks and green areas.