Parts of Abuja have been hit by flooding following heavy rainfall, with residents blaming the recurring problem on poor drainage, indiscriminate waste disposal and the conversion of green spaces and waterways for development.
Flooding was reported in Wuse 2, Katampe, Mabushi, Lugbe, Nyanya, Gwarimpa, Asokoro, Maitama, Utako, Wuye, Gudu and around the bridge linking Gaduwa and Durumi.
Motorists and residents were affected by rising water, while social media reports showed vehicles and properties surrounded by floodwater. However, no official assessment of damage was immediately available.
In Wuse 2, residents reported significant flooding on roads and surrounding areas after Sunday’s downpour.
At Gudu, the Delight Event Centre was reportedly heavily flooded, while the bridge linking Gaduwa and Durumi was inundated, leaving some motorists stranded.
The latest flooding has renewed concerns about Abuja’s drainage infrastructure and the city’s preparedness for intense rainfall, particularly in areas where drainage channels are inadequate, poorly maintained or blocked by refuse.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has previously warned that prolonged rainfall and saturated soil could increase rapid surface runoff, particularly in low-lying communities and urban centres with inadequate drainage systems.
The agency has also advised residents to clear drainage channels and waterways and avoid indiscriminate waste disposal.
Residents blame green space conversion
Residents and environmental observers say Abuja’s rapid urbanisation has increased paved and built-up surfaces, reducing the amount of land available to absorb rainwater.
They also blamed poor waste management, saying plastic bottles, nylon bags, food waste, sand and other debris dumped around roads and drainage channels can obstruct the movement of stormwater.
Concerns have also been raised over the conversion of designated green areas and waterways for residential and commercial developments.
Abraham Bello said the conversion of green areas could be contributing to the worsening flooding in the Federal Capital Territory.
“All the converted GREEN AREAS in Abuja may be contributing to the current flooding the FCT is experiencing, a situation unlike any seen in Abuja before.”
Bello said the conversion of green areas could reduce the city’s natural capacity to absorb and channel rainwater, increasing surface runoff and putting additional pressure on existing drainage infrastructure.
Similarly, Ahmad Rufai said residents were witnessing the consequences of allocating green areas and waterways for development.
“We are now witnessing the consequences of allocating Green Areas and Waterways for residential and commercial buildings in Abuja.”
Rufai also blamed poor public services, particularly waste management and sewage maintenance.
“Coupled with poor service delivery especially waste management and sewage cleaning.”»
The concerns have intensified calls for the FCT authorities to review developments around green areas and waterways, improve drainage and waste management, and enforce planning regulations to prevent further obstruction of natural water channels.
FCT emergency agency warns residents
The Head of Public Affairs at the FCT Emergency Management Department, Nkechi Isa, said authorities had intensified flood preparedness and public sensitisation following early warnings from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
In an interview with The Guardian, Isa said the seasonal climate prediction issued by NiMet and the annual flood outlook released by NIHSA guided the FCT’s preparations.
She said the FCT authorities convened a stakeholders’ meeting involving NEMA, the Engineering Services Department, Department of Development Control, FCT Fire Service, Red Cross and Satellite Towns Development Department.
According to Isa, the agencies reviewed previous flooding incidents and agreed on measures to mitigate the impact of the rains.
She said the department subsequently visited flood-prone communities, including Lugbe and Mabushi, while also assessing areas identified by NIHSA as vulnerable.
Isa said officials also visited Gwagwalada and Kwali Area Councils to sensitise residents, engage traditional institutions and assess flood-prone locations, while Abaji was also identified among the area councils at risk.
She said public awareness campaigns had been intensified through radio and television, with residents advised to clear their drainage channels, avoid building along waterways and relocate from floodplains to safer, higher ground.
Isa said residents should also report developments obstructing the natural flow of water, adding that a case involving a developer allegedly blocking a water channel in Mabushi had been reported to the relevant authorities.
“We have been going round, sensitising people and creating awareness. We have also been telling people to clear their drains and warning those who live along the floodplain to move to higher ground to avoid loss of lives and property.”
Isa listed Mabushi, Lugbe, parts of Gwarinpa, Wuye, Nyanya and parts of Gwagwalada among areas where flooding had been reported.
She said the situation was particularly severe around a residential structure on Anthony Kemp Street in Mabushi, where floodwater reportedly rose to window level and entered the building. The owner subsequently took mitigation measures, while ground-floor residents relocated to a safer location.
Isa urged residents to exercise extreme caution around flooded roads, warning that the depth of floodwater may be unknown and that flash floods could sweep away people and vehicles.
“Please do not drive into flooded roads, and do not even walk into them. Do not ride your motorcycle or drive your vehicle into floodwater because you do not know the depth and there could also be a flash flood.”
She also urged residents to clear their drains and relocate if they live in low-lying areas or along water channels.
The flooding has once again placed Abuja’s drainage systems, waste management practices and urban planning under scrutiny as residents call for preventive measures before, rather than after, heavy rainfall.
