Wike Inspects Flooded Abuja Areas, Discovers Structure on Revoked Waterway

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has inspected areas affected by weekend flooding in Maitama, Abuja, where he discovered a structure reportedly built on a drainage area whose allocation was revoked more than a decade ago.

Wike visited the affected locations on Tuesday morning as concerns continued over the causes of flooding that hit parts of the Federal Capital Territory following heavy rainfall on Saturday.

During the inspection, the minister and officials toured a designated drainage channel where a structure had been erected despite the plot’s revocation in 2011.

The minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, shared footage of the inspection on X, identifying the location as a drainage area that had been revoked because of overriding public interest.

A sign at the location identified the site as a drainage area and stated that Plot 4508 A06 had been revoked on December 22, 2011.

The discovery comes amid public concerns over the factors contributing to flooding in Abuja, with residents and critics pointing to blocked waterways, construction around drainage and green areas, and inadequate infrastructure.

The FCT Administration has defended its handling of the situation, maintaining that flooding in parts of Abuja predates Wike’s tenure.

Olayinka, in an earlier statement, said Saturday’s heavy rainfall caused temporary flooding in some locations, with the water later receding.

He also cited previous flooding incidents in areas including Wuse, Jabi and Lokogoma in 2019, as well as Lokogoma, Efab Estate and Gudu in 2022.

According to the minister’s aide, the rapid expansion of the Federal Capital Territory has placed pressure on existing drainage and waste-management infrastructure, while enforcement of planning regulations has also faced challenges.

He further blamed the removal of drainage covers by scavengers for allowing refuse to enter and obstruct drainage channels.

Olayinka said the FCT Administration was reviewing the 1979 Abuja Master Plan to reflect the city’s current realities.

He added that the administration had begun installing drainage covers designed to make them more difficult to remove.

The inspection is part of ongoing efforts by the FCT Administration to assess flood-prone areas and address infrastructure and planning challenges linked to flooding in the capital.

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