Abuja landlords, business owners demand action over worsening floods

Landlords and business owners in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are demanding urgent measures from the administration to combat recurring floods in Abuja. The FCT Stakeholders Forum for Development, comprising property owners and investors, highlighted that recent floods have submerged homes, blocked roads, and disrupted livelihoods, necessitating immediate intervention.

Speaking for the group, Chairman Chief David Kente stated that flooding is no longer an isolated incident, with communities previously unaffected now vulnerable. An independent assessment by the forum identified blocked drainage systems, indiscriminate waste disposal, and scavengers removing drainage covers as key contributors. Rapid urban expansion was also cited as a significant factor.

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Flooding is no longer an isolated incident. Communities that never experienced such levels of inundation are now vulnerable. Homes have been submerged, roads cut off, and livelihoods disrupted.

While acknowledging criticisms linking the floods to potential violations of the Abuja Master Plan, the forum emphasized that the problem predates the current administration. They argued that the 1979 Master Plan is outdated and no longer suitable for a capital city with over 3.5 million people, requiring urgent review and modernization. The group stressed the need to address the issue as a long-standing urban planning and environmental challenge.

The forum's demands come as national agencies heighten flood preparedness. The National Emergency Management Agency has activated its National Emergency Operations Centre, and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency has identified the FCT as a high-risk area for flash floods. These concerns underscore the growing urgency for effective flood management strategies in the capital.

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The 1979 Master Plan is outdated. The document that guides development in the FCT no longer reflects the demographic and infrastructural realities of a capital city of over 3.5 million people. It requires urgent review and modernisation.