The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced the demolition of houses and other structures built on designated waterways in Abuja.
The demolition exercise began on Tuesday in Maitama, shortly after Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ordered the immediate removal of structures obstructing waterways in the capital.
Tractors were seen bringing down some of the affected structures as officials commenced enforcement of the directive.
Wike had issued the order after inspecting areas affected by flash floods that hit parts of Abuja following heavy rainfall on Saturday.
The minister said buildings constructed on designated water channels had worsened the impact of the flooding and vowed that the structures would be demolished regardless of the status of their owners.
He said the exercise would be carried out from Tuesday to Saturday.
“We will demolish all those houses found on the water channel. Some of them are senators. Some of them are big men,” Wike said.
The minister also directed the immediate desilting of identified drainage channels across the FCT.
The latest flooding left residents stranded and vehicles submerged in several parts of Abuja, including Maitama, Wuse 2, Gudu, Lokogoma and other areas.
Wike attributed the flooding to a combination of natural and human factors, including construction on waterways, blocked drainage channels and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
He said the FCT administration would enforce development regulations to ensure that structures do not obstruct the natural flow of stormwater.
