Illegal Structures on Waterways cause flooding in FCT- Agencies

The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have identified illegal structures that block waterways as being responsible for flooding in some parts of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

The FCDA Executive Secretary, Mr. Shehu Ahmad, said this when he received the FEMA management, led by its Director General, Malam Abbas Idriss, while on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Friday.

The secretary used the occasion to reiterate the resolve of both agencies to prevent people from building with impunity in the territory.

To that effect, he said that the FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has ordered the immediate removal of such illegal structures.

 

“Consequently, the FCT Administration would not sit idly by or sit back and allow the loss of lives and property of residents,” said Idriss.

 

 

 

The FCT Administration named areas such as Lokogoma, Dogongada, Trademore and Efab Estates, where illegal structures blocking waterways caused flooding after just four hours of rain on Wednesday.

He said the administration would be ready to meet with the owners of such illegal properties in court, if necessary.

“What is happening in the city should serve as warning enough to all that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s prediction of heavy rain for 2022 during this rainy season is real.

“Therefore, the FCT minister, Bello, has ordered that all constriction in the waterways be removed and that anyone aggrieved go to court.

“We will be ready to meet them there,” he said.

Most of the illegal construction found to have restricted and blocked waterways was previously removed in 2019 due to flooding that occurred at the time.

He revealed that a meeting of the relevant departments and agencies of the FCT would be convened soon to evaluate and reinforce previous resolutions on the issue of flooding in the city.

He further said that the FCTA is also considering awarding the contract for the full development of Ring Road II (RR II), which would involve replacing the current box culverts with some bridges.

According to him, this is part of a permanent solution to the recurring flooding around the Lokogoma and Galadimawa roundabout in the capital city.

Meanwhile the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had forecast the arrival of heavy rains in Abuja from as early as May 14. However, some parts of the city have begun to experience flooding even before the date.

Therefore, the FEMA Director-General, Idriss, called for  urgent collaboration between the agency and relevant stakeholders.

 

Idriss attributed the flooding in the city to urbanization, which has given rise to infractions such as construction on floodplains and the diversion of river courses by some real estate developers.

He called on the FCDA as the custodian of the Abuja master plan to join the agency in providing the necessary support to prevent the activities of illegal developers, who do not take into cognizance the effect of climate changes.

He also called on residents, especially motorists, to be patient whenever it rains:

“The rain must subside to avoid road incidents that could cause unnecessary loss of life.”

 

 

Edited by Amaka E. Nliam