OPEN LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF FCT

AN OPEN LETTER ON THE PRESERVATION OF JABI LAKE FOR PUBLIC USE

Your Excellency, 

Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Dear Honourable Minister,

Let me begin by expressing the profound appreciation of many residents of the Federal Capital Territory for the energy and visible commitment you have brought to your role. The rapid infrastructural developments, the focus on completing abandoned projects, and the general renewal of drive within the FCTA have not gone unnoticed. Your efforts are sparking a much-needed renaissance in our capital city, and for this, we are truly grateful.

It is from this place of support and a shared desire for a world-class capital that I wish to bring a pressing concern to your attention regarding the fate of one of Abuja's most cherished public assets: Jabi Lake.

Jabi Lake is not just a body of water; it is a central landmark and a major natural beauty of Abuja. As the city's most prominent lake, it serves as a vital green lung and a recreational hub for all citizens, not just a privileged few. The Jabi Lake Park, commissioned 19 years ago, and the Jabi Lake Mall are successful examples of public-centered development that allow everyone to enjoy this resource. They prove that public access and commercial benefit can coexist harmoniously.

It is therefore with great concern that we observe the alleged allocation of the remaining 60% of the lake's shoreline to private property and exclusive estate developers. This trend of allocating our precious waterways and parks for private, gated communities is alarming. It threatens to permanently fence off our collective heritage, turning a public vista into a private backyard for the wealthy.

Honourable Minister, we must learn from the best practices of great cities around the world. New York City, for all its towering skyscrapers and dense development, preserved Central Park a massive natural oasis at its very core. This wasn't an accident; it was a masterstroke of visionary urban planning that recognized the irreplaceable value of public space for the well-being of all its inhabitants.

The current path leads to senseless artificial structures that lack longevity, rather than sustainable, natural beauty that lasts for generations. Rather than selling our crown jewels, we should be enhancing them. The Jabi Lake Park, for instance, is in dire need of maintenance and upgrading to become the world-class public recreational park Abuja deserves.

We humbly urge you, Sir, to use your good office to:

1. Halt immediately any further allocation of land around Jabi Lake and other public waterways to private estate developers.

2. Initiate a master plan for Jabi Lake that designates its entire shoreline strictly for public use such as parks, amphitheaters, public art installations, restaurants, and cultural centers that every Nigerian can enjoy.

3. Commit to the refurbishment and upgrade of the existing Jabi Lake Park facilities.

Your legacy, Honourable Minister, is already being forged in concrete and steel. Let it also be cemented in the preservation of our natural landscapes for the public good. Please ensure that Jabi Lake remains a haven for all Abuja residents, now and forever.

Thank you for your time and for your passionate service to the FCT.

Respectfully Yours,

Oyugbo Jonah Osagie

A Concerned and Patriotic Resident of Abuja.

#SaveJabiLake #PublicSpacesForAll #AbujaOurHeritage #WikeProtectOurLakes #UrbanPlanning #NoToPrivatization #OyugboJonahOsagie

Nyesom Ezenwo Wike - CON, GSSRS