The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rejected appeals urging the federal government to suspend its planned redevelopment of the Jabi Lake area in Abuja, insisting that administrative decisions on public assets will not be influenced by emotional reactions or public pressure.
According to a report by Punch on May 6, 2026, Wike restated his position during a media briefing in Abuja, where he responded to a viral video showing Senior Pastor of Family Worship Centre, Sarah Omakwu, appealing for the preservation of the Jabi Lake Recreation Centre.
In the video, the cleric had expressed concern over the proposed transfer of the facility to private developers, warning that such a move could deprive residents of an important recreational and social space.
The minister, however, maintained that government policy must be guided by urban development priorities and legal frameworks governing land use, rather than sentiments expressed by individuals or interest groups.
He stressed that the land in question is public property and must be managed in a way that aligns with broader development objectives for the capital city.
Responding directly to the emotional appeal made in the video, Wike dismissed suggestions that public outcry would alter the government’s decision.
“To the woman who was crying, if she likes let her call God to come down. What is my business?” he said, signaling that the administration would proceed with its plans regardless of public emotion.
Wike explained that the decision to revisit the status of the Jabi Lake site was informed by years of inactivity and underutilisation under previous arrangements.
According to him, a company had been allocated the site for more than a decade but failed to develop it into a functional recreational facility as originally intended.
He said the area, instead of becoming a modern tourism and leisure destination, had deteriorated over time into an unstructured environment with makeshift developments, which fell short of the government’s planning expectations for the area.
The FCT minister noted that the administration was left with no alternative but to revoke the existing allocation and open the space to investors with proven capacity to deliver a modern, well-structured development within a defined timeline.
He added that any new agreement would include strict performance conditions to ensure that development targets are met and that public assets are not left idle or mismanaged over time.
Wike further stated that the redevelopment of Jabi Lake forms part of a wider infrastructure and urban renewal strategy aimed at repositioning Abuja as a more functional and investment-friendly capital city.
According to him, the initiative is designed not only to improve the physical landscape of the territory but also to create economic opportunities, enhance tourism potential, and provide better recreational facilities for residents.
He assured that the planned redevelopment would ultimately serve the interest of the general public, emphasizing that the government’s goal is to ensure that public assets are put to productive use rather than left underdeveloped.
The minister also dismissed suggestions that the policy direction could discourage investors, insisting instead that the FCT is currently attracting significant interest from both local and international development partners.
He said ongoing engagements with investors reflect growing confidence in the administration’s approach to infrastructure development and urban planning within Abuja.
Wike further argued that visible changes across different parts of the Federal Capital Territory demonstrate the effectiveness of the government’s current development strategy and its commitment to delivering long-term improvements.
