Tuesday evening was a moment of disappointment for customers of the popular Boulevard Park in Maitama as the officials of the FCT Administration stormed the park to commence demolition, while customers who had barely settled down to unwind watched helplessly.
The demolition team, led by the Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, explained that the exercise was carried out over violations of the Park policy and infractions against the Abuja master plan.
The Director, who was represented by the Assistant Director and Sector Head for Maitama and Wuse Districts, Sherif Razak, explained that the park, originally designated as a recreational space, had been grossly misused and overbuilt.
He noted that the space had been converted into worship centers, revival grounds, a pub for relaxation, and restaurants operating under unhygienic conditions, lamenting that no single recreational facility is situated in the Park.
Galadima further alleged that the park harbored people of questionable character, raising both security and environmental concerns for the surrounding residential neighborhood.
He also revealed that the FCTA plans to redefine and reassign parks in the city to serve their intended purposes.
“What’s happening here is an enforcement exercise to clean up infractions observed within this park. Specifically, Boulevard Park has violated the park policy. When you look around, you cannot pinpoint a single recreational facility, even though it is designated as a recreational park. Instead, the park is simply overbuilt,” he said.
“Previously, all parks were thematic in nature, some active, some passive. The administration has resolved to take them back and reassign them with appropriate themes to be developed in line with global best practices. This will ensure residents of the city have proper recreational spaces,” Galadima said.
