The Senior Pastor of Family Worship Centre, Abuja, Sarah Omakwu, has made a public appeal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, urging him not to allocate the Jabi Lake recreation area for private development.
In a video shared on her social media page, Omakwu was seen kneeling on the pulpit as she pleaded with the minister to preserve the facility as a public space. She described the area as a vital social and recreational centre where residents gather for exercise, business activities, and community events.
According to her, Jabi Lake serves as a meeting point for people from different walks of life, including young persons, families, and small-scale traders, stressing that its conversion to private use would deprive many of access to a shared public environment.
Omakwu also expressed concerns about the gradual restriction of public spaces in Abuja, citing the reduced accessibility of areas such as Aso Rock over time. She urged the minister to ensure that Jabi Lake remains open and accessible to all residents.
While making the appeal, she acknowledged ongoing infrastructure development in the Federal Capital Territory, commending the minister for improvements in road networks and other projects. However, she insisted that the preservation of the lake should be prioritised in the interest of the public.
The appeal comes months after the Federal Capital Territory Administration entered into agreements with private firms, including Suburban Broadband Limited and Akida Hills Limited, to redevelop the Jabi Lake area into a major recreational and tourism hub.
The administration has maintained that the initiative is aimed at boosting economic activities and enhancing Abuja’s appeal as a destination for leisure, even as concerns continue to be raised over public access to the space.
