Abuja Pastor Kneels, Begs Wike Over Jabi Lake Land

The Senior Pastor of Family Worship Centre, Sarah Omakwu, has appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to reconsider plans to allocate land at the Jabi Lake Recreation Centre for private development.

Omakwu made the appeal in a video posted on her Instagram page on Sunday, where she was seen kneeling on the pulpit while addressing the minister. She said the recreation centre serves as a key public space for residents, hosting exercise, informal trading, and social gatherings.

She described the area as a meeting point for families and young people, noting that it also supports small businesses and leisure activities. According to her, preserving the space would protect access for the wider community.

The cleric said she was making a personal appeal rather than a confrontation, urging the minister to leave the land open for public use. She also referenced past changes to public access in Abuja, pointing to restrictions over time around Aso Rock.

Omakwu, however, acknowledged ongoing infrastructure projects under Wike’s administration, including improvements to road networks across the capital, which she said have eased movement within the city.

Her 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.

The minister has said the project is aimed at transforming the site into a major recreational hub to boost tourism and economic activity in Abuja.