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FAVOUR ISHEMBER, Abuja
Authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) are set to review the master plan for the Usuma dam area due to concerns over unregulated development that could compromise the city’s vital water source.
This decision follows a joint site visit led by the FCTA Department of Development Control, alongside other agencies responsible for physical planning, infrastructure, and environmental management.
The Director of the Department of Development Control, Tpl. Mukhtar Galadima, emphasized the gravity of the situation, citing the need for a collective review of the existing layout to prevent long-term consequences.
He warned that development pressure on the area is imminent and stressed the importance of putting measures in place to safeguard the dam.
“There were concerns raised by different stakeholders as regards to the development along the proximity of Usman Dam. That’s why the Department of Development Control thought it fit to invite relevant stakeholders to visit the site and see on the spot what is really happening.”
“You are thinking maybe it’s 50 years. No, by the next two years, we’ll see development behind the dam. So we have to put measures in place to safeguard and protect this particular feature”.
Galadima called for contributions from relevant departments, including Urban and Regional Planning and the Water Board, to assess the layout’s continued relevance and agree on sustainable measures. He noted that the administration may initiate a full layout review if necessary.
In the words of Galadima:”Is the layout relevant? Is the layout adequate? If we feel there is a threat to the existence of this water body, we can write, so that posterity will judge us that we acted at a point in time. If we feel we can develop this district, but with certain measures, let all of us come up with those measures to guide its development.”
“Urban and Regional Planning, URP, should give us an up-to-date layout of the district. Water Board should also, in collaboration with URP, come up with a reasonable distance away from the dam. Water Board should give us their policy on dams and water bodies in the FCT, so we can use it in guiding or granting approvals.”
Looking at the Technical Insights, the Assistant Director of Engineering Services at the FCTA, Engr. Mohammed Danimoh, provided technical insight into the concerns over the area’s topography and sustainability.
Danimoh highlighted that the entire terrain slopes toward the Usuma Dam, creating major risks for both surface runoff and wastewater management.
“We can see that everything, the slope, the grid, everything is sloping downwards towards the dam.
“What the master plan policy says is: avoid sewage pumping at all costs. Every sewage is supposed to be drained via gravity. But here, any development will require pumping, and that raises serious sustainability concerns.
“Yes, engineering-wise, there is no problem without a solution. But at what cost? We could develop a sewage treatment plant. But can we sustain it? Going by even the history of the ones we have developed within the city proper. Those ones are temporal.”
The FCTA aims to ensure the sustainability of the Usuma dam and prevent potential risks associated with unregulated development.
The review of the master plan is expected to guide future approvals and development in the area.
The flood-prone area in Lokogoma was also inspected, where the Director of the Department of Development Control announced plans to expand channels to improve water flow.
“This is an area that everybody in Abuja knows about when it comes to flooding. That’s why we invited all relevant stakeholders. In Development Control, we intend to use our equipment to expand the channels so that water can have an easy flow.”
He warned illegal developers to stop building on waterways, stating that the administration would remove encroachments.
“We have marked them to stop any further encroachment, and we are going to remove those encroachments. So this is enough notice. They should stop building on waterways”, he warned.
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Unregulated Dev. threatens Abuja's Water Source, FCTA acts as authorities consider review of master plan – Champion Newspapers LTD
