• FCTA to review master plan to safeguard facility
By Abbas Nazil
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has raised alarm over unregulated development around the Usuma Dam area, prompting plans to review the existing master plan to safeguard Abuja’s vital water source.
Following a joint site inspection involving several government agencies responsible for physical planning, infrastructure, and environmental management, officials emphasized the urgency of acting before irreversible environmental and infrastructural damage occurs.
Director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, stressed the importance of immediate intervention to prevent threats to the dam’s sustainability.
He noted that pressure for development in the area is increasing rapidly and warned that within two years, the landscape behind the dam may be overtaken by unregulated construction.
Galadima emphasized the need for stakeholders to collaboratively review the layout, assess its relevance, and propose sustainable measures to guide future development.
“There were concerns raised by different stakeholders regarding the development near Usuma Dam,” he explained, adding, “That’s why we invited relevant stakeholders to visit the site and witness firsthand what is going on. You may think we have decades to act, but within two years, unchecked development could be a reality.”
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Galadima called on departments such as Urban and Regional Planning (URP) and the Water Board to provide updated maps and policies.
He stressed the necessity for clear guidelines on safe distances from the dam and policies governing developments around water bodies in the FCT.
The aim is to either modify the layout with protective measures or initiate a full review if deemed inadequate.
Adding to the concerns, Assistant Director of Engineering Services, Engr. Mohammed Danimoh, highlighted technical and environmental risks.
He pointed out that the area’s topography naturally slopes toward the Usuma Dam, increasing the risk of surface runoff and improper wastewater disposal.
He further cautioned that development in such terrain would require costly sewage pumping, which contradicts master plan policies that advocate gravity-based sewage systems for sustainability.
While engineering solutions like sewage treatment plants exist, Danimoh questioned their feasibility, citing past projects that have proven unsustainable within the city center.
He emphasized the high cost and questionable long-term effectiveness of such installations.
