Green areas in Abuja are being sacrificed for short-term gains, notes GODWIN SOGOLO
In saner societies, the media – whether print or electronic, traditional or modern – are accorded respect as guardians of public values and the collective interest. That was largely true of Nigeria before the erosion of institutional standards and public accountability. In such societies, when a reputable media organisation adopts an editorial position on a matter of national importance, it is regarded not merely as the opinion of a newspaper but as a considered reflection of informed public sentiment. Sadly, many political leaders in Nigeria pay scant attention to newspapers and the important public issues they raise, largely because many seldom read them. Those who do but choose to dismiss their editorial interventions often do so at their own peril.
Such, for instance, is The Guardian editorial of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, titled: “Tackling Abuja’s Disappearing Green Shield for a Balanced Ecosystem.” The editorial decried the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration for its continued violation of the Abuja Master Plan, particularly through the conversion of designated green areas into residential, commercial, and other revenue-generating uses. It warned that these encroachments were degrading the city’s ecological balance and inflicting lasting and potentially irreversible environmental damage.
