The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has attributed recurring flooding in parts of Abuja to illegal developments along waterways and the effects of climate change.
Wike stated this during a media parley in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, while speaking on the challenges of infrastructure and urban development in the FCT.
The minister said the construction of buildings along natural waterways had obstructed the free flow of rainwater, contributing to flooding in parts of the nation’s capital.
“The floods in Abuja today are a result of people building on waterways in Abuja illegally over the years,” Wike said.
He said some developers had encroached on floodplains and natural drainage channels, thereby affecting the city’s drainage system during periods of heavy rainfall.
Wike also identified climate change as another factor contributing to the recent flooding in Abuja.
“Climate change is also responsible for the flooding being experienced recently in Abuja,” he said.
The minister also disclosed that the FCT Administration had suspended a director in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) over alleged involvement in the approval of buildings constructed on waterways.
“We suspended a director in the FCDA who was illegally giving building approvals to build on waterways,” Wike said.
He said the administration was reviewing developments across the FCT to identify structures obstructing natural waterways.
Wike said the FCT Administration would continue to enforce the Abuja Master Plan and take measures to restore natural drainage channels and reduce the risk of flooding.
He stressed the need for compliance with approved planning regulations to safeguard lives and property in the territory.
