The Federal Capital Territory Administration has attributed the latest flooding in Abuja to the city’s rapid expansion, inadequate drainage infrastructure, poor waste management and weak enforcement of planning regulations.
Heavy rainfall on Saturday caused flooding in several parts of the nation’s capital, including Wuse 2, Gudu, Lokogoma, Katampe Main and Utako, disrupting traffic and leaving some motorists stranded.
Floodwaters reportedly overwhelmed roads and connecting bridges, while businesses and residential properties in affected areas were also impacted.
The incident has renewed concerns among residents about Abuja’s preparedness for intense rainfall and the ability of its drainage network to cope with the city’s continued development.
The FCTA also raised concerns over the activities of scavengers who allegedly remove drainage covers, exposing channels to refuse and other materials that obstruct the free movement of water.
Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on Public Communications and Social Media, said the flooding was not a new development in Abuja.
“The sad reality is that Abuja has been witnessing flooding long before Wike assumed office,” Olayinka said.
He recalled that flooding had previously affected Wuse, Jabi and Lokogoma in 2019, while parts of Lokogoma, Efab Estate and Gudu, as well as connecting bridges, experienced similar incidents in 2022.
Olayinka spoke while responding to criticism from Abuja-based lawyer Deji Adeyanju, who accused Wike of contributing to the deterioration of the capital.
The minister’s aide described the criticism as “very unfortunate”, arguing that the flooding problem predates the current administration.
“When there was flood in Abuja in 2019, as reported in the media, was it Wike that caused it?” Olayinka asked.
He said the FCT Administration was addressing the problem through a number of measures aimed at improving drainage and urban planning.
According to him, the administration has commenced a review of Abuja’s 1979 Master Plan to bring it in line with the realities of the rapidly expanding city.
He also disclosed plans to install drainage covers designed to make them more difficult for scavengers to remove.
The measures, the administration said, are part of broader efforts to improve drainage management, strengthen planning controls and minimise flooding across the capital.
Despite the explanation, residents have continued to demand urgent action, particularly in communities prone to flooding.
They called for improved drainage systems, better waste disposal and stricter enforcement of development regulations to prevent heavy rainfall from repeatedly disrupting movement and damaging properties.
