KEY POINTS

• Abuja residents and activists protested the alleged takeover of Jabi Lake Park by the FCT administration.
• Protesters issued a one-week ultimatum demanding the removal of structures allegedly encroaching on the park.
• Demonstrators say the park supports recreation, mental health, small businesses, and livelihoods for many residents.

Angry residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), activists, traders, and recreational users on Wednesday staged a protest against the alleged takeover and reallocation of Jabi Lake Park by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

The protesters described the move as an attack on public spaces and a violation of the Abuja Master Plan, insisting that the park should remain accessible to ordinary Nigerians.

They issued a one-week ultimatum to the minister and developers involved in the project to stop ongoing construction activities and remove structures allegedly encroaching on the park or risk mass action.

The protest was led by activist Omoyele Sowore, who accused the FCT administration of converting green areas and public recreational spaces into private developments.

Sowore described Jabi Lake Park as one of the few affordable relaxation centres available to low-income residents in Abuja.

According to him, the park serves multiple purposes, including recreation, exercise, therapy sessions, religious gatherings, wedding photoshoots, and small-scale business activities.

“This park is the only place in Abuja where poor people can freely gather, relax and make a living,” he said.

He also alleged that several public lands within the FCT, including areas around highways, institutions, and communities such as the University of Abuja and Bwari, had been reallocated for private use.

Residents Say Park Supports Livelihoods And Mental Health

Speaking during the protest, Ahmed El-Rufai Rilwan, leader of the Recreational Users and Operators group, said the park has supported many residents economically and emotionally for years.

He noted that widows, small business owners, retirees, and young people rely on activities around the park for survival and wellbeing.

“There are widows here with children who survive from the shops they operate around this park. Some people also come here for therapy and emotional relief,” he said.

Another recreational operator, Rahama Yelwa, described the park as a second home for many families and entrepreneurs struggling with economic hardship.

She said the facility had become an important social and economic space where people gather, build businesses, and support one another.

A yoga instructor, Augustine Ngaranduku, also stressed the importance of the park to residents’ physical and mental health.

He explained that the facility had given many unemployed and struggling residents a place for exercise, healing, and emotional stability.

The protesters maintained that public parks and green spaces should be preserved for community use instead of being converted into private commercial projects.