Flooding: FCT identifies high-risk communities, begins awareness campaign

The Federal Capital Territory Administration is proactively identifying flood-prone communities and initiating an awareness campaign to mitigate anticipated flooding across the territory. This exercise stems from directives by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, emphasizing early intervention and public sensitization to prepare for predicted disasters.

The campaign commenced in Gwagwalada Area Council with a stakeholders' meeting. Officials stated that forecasts indicate 33 states and the FCT could experience severe flooding this year due to climate change effects. Gwagwalada, along with Abuja Municipal Area Council, Kuje, Kwali, and Abaji, are among the locations requiring close monitoring, with Gwagwalada identified for direct intervention.

FCT Emergency Management Agency officials dismissed claims that flooding in Gwagwalada resulted from dam operations. They attributed the issue primarily to heavy runoff and human activities, particularly building on waterways and neglecting proper drainage channels. Residents are urged to avoid constructing homes along waterways, as disasters often occur in such locations.

Community leaders requested that the agency prioritize preventive measures and structural interventions over post-disaster relief. They also called for practical solutions to recurring floods and improved community preparedness before peak rainfall, emphasizing the need for residents to be equipped with knowledge and resources to reduce flood impacts. Inadequate waste disposal facilities were identified as a major cause of blocked drainage channels.

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Flooding in Gwagwalada is not caused by dams but by heavy runoff and human activities, particularly building on waterways instead of constructing drainage channels.