The Senior Pastor of Family Worship Centre, Abuja, Sarah Omakwu has appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to halt plans to allocate the Jabi Lake recreation area for private development.
In a video shared on her Instagram page on Sunday, Omakwu was seen kneeling on the pulpit as she made a passionate plea, describing the area as an important public space for recreation, social interaction, and community life.
“I cannot fight the minister of the FCT. I cannot. But I go on my knees as a mother… that Jabi Lake Recreation Centre should not be given to anybody,” she said.
She stressed that the location serves multiple public purposes, including exercise, trading, social gatherings, entertainment, and youth activities, urging that it remain accessible to all residents.
Omakwu referenced past urban changes in Abuja, expressing concern that public access to key landmarks has gradually reduced over time. Despite her appeal, she also acknowledged Wike’s efforts in infrastructure development within the capital city, praising ongoing road projects and improvements in mobility.
“I thank you for all the highways you have built… But for this piece of land, I beg you, let it go,” she added.
Her comments come amid ongoing plans by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to redevelop the Jabi Lake area through partnerships with private firms aimed at boosting tourism and economic activity in Abuja.
The initiative, earlier approved under agreements involving the FCTA and private developers, is intended to reposition the recreational site into a more structured leisure and investment hub.
The debate reflects growing public concern over balancing urban development with the preservation of open public spaces in Nigeria’s capital.