Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, has blamed the increasing flooding in Abuja on construction activities on green spaces, flood channels, gullies and flood plains across the city.
Kingibe said the continued development of areas meant to serve as natural drainage paths had reduced the ability of rainwater to flow freely, worsening flooding during heavy rainfall.
The senator spoke on Monday during an interview with ARISE NEWS, where she expressed concern over what she described as a departure from the original Abuja master plan.
According to her, some developments approved by the FCT administration were taking place in areas that should have remained open to allow water to drain naturally.
“Absolutely. Some of the developments sanctioned by the current FCT administration are indeed heightening the flood risk in Abuja. I have consistently raised concerns about the green areas, gullies, flood channels and flood plains, as I observe them being developed upon,” she said.
Kingibe said she had repeatedly raised the issue with officials responsible for development control in the FCT, arguing that such construction should not have been authorised.
She said the consequences were now becoming clear as heavy rains exposed weaknesses in the city’s drainage system.
“For instance, in Wuse Zone 6, a residential project is being constructed over a sewage line, resulting in a foul odour. This poses a health hazard,” she said.
The senator also pointed to several gullies in parts of Abuja which, according to her, had been built over or restricted.
She cited areas around Asokoro, including locations not far from the residence of the Senate President, as examples of gullies that had been developed.
Kingibe also raised concern over activities around Jabi Park, which she said was originally designated as a public park.
“Jabi Park is designated as a public park. Currently, the greenery is being compromised. Even around the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, there is a deep gully that has been enclosed for an unknown purpose,” she said.
She explained that Abuja’s rocky terrain made proper drainage particularly important because rainwater could move quickly across the city when there was heavy rainfall.
According to her, when natural drainage routes are blocked or narrowed, the water has fewer places to go, increasing the risk of flooding.
“Consequently, when it rains, particularly given the rocky terrain surrounding Abuja, the water has no proper outlet because all its pathways are obstructed,” she said.
She added that even some of the remaining flood channels had been reduced in size, making it difficult for them to carry large volumes of water.
“It is not feasible to build on every available space in a city, especially one that was designed according to a master plan that is now being disregarded,” Kingibe said.
The senator stressed that her criticism of developments in Abuja was not a personal disagreement with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
She said she had raised concerns about flooding, green spaces and infrastructure before her current disagreements with the minister became public.
Kingibe said she first contacted officials of the Development Control department after assuming office as senator and had continued to draw attention to the possible consequences of unplanned development.
She said her intervention was driven by the need to protect residents of the FCT rather than by political differences.
“Therefore, this is not a personal matter with the minister. It is simply that any issue adversely affecting my constituents necessitates my intervention, and he is the individual responsible for granting direct approval for many of these matters,” she said.
Kingibe also disclosed that she had written to the Federal Capital Development Authority seeking information on the measures being planned to address flooding in Abuja.
She said she asked the agency to provide details of both short-term and long-term measures for tackling the problem.
The senator said she expected the FCDA to respond to her concerns and provide clear plans that could be assessed by residents and lawmakers.
She warned that government agencies must be held responsible for decisions that affect the environment and the safety of residents.
While acknowledging that flooding was not a new problem in Abuja and did not begin under the present FCT administration, Kingibe said the situation had become worse in recent years.
She said successive FCT administrations had contributed to the reduction of green areas but argued that the problem had become more serious during the last three to four years under Wike.
“Clearly, there was an issue. It did not originate with him, but he has certainly intensified that problem considerably,” she said.
The senator called for immediate steps to reduce the impact of flooding, particularly ahead of further heavy rainfall.
She urged the FCT authorities to clear waste from the streets and unclog drains so that rubbish would not be washed into drainage channels during rainfall.
“One of the immediate actions I would recommend, before the next rains, is to clear the significant accumulation of waste throughout the city,” she said.
According to her, the presence of waste around the city could quickly become a major drainage problem when washed into already restricted channels.
She also called for proper maintenance and assessment of Abuja’s sewage and drainage systems, saying the city had faced infrastructure problems that required urgent attention.
Kingibe said she had come across documents highlighting the need for maintenance and assessment of the systems shortly before or after she became a senator.
She said the concerns had also been raised with some heads of agencies under the FCDA.
The senator further called for a realistic assessment of the challenges facing the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and other agencies responsible for maintaining the city.
She said political differences should not prevent government officials from working together to address problems affecting residents.
“We need to engage in a realistic and comprehensive discussion, setting aside political agendas, to identify urgent solutions,” she said.
Kingibe also urged the National Assembly to strengthen its oversight of the FCT in view of the recent flooding.
She said lawmakers should examine the activities of the FCDA and other agencies responsible for planning, development, drainage and environmental management in Abuja.
The senator appealed to lawmakers not to dismiss her concerns as part of a personal disagreement with the FCT minister.
She said the recent flooding should instead serve as a reason for the National Assembly to take a closer look at the city’s development pattern and infrastructure.
“I hope that the floods in Abuja will prompt the National Assembly, which serves as the oversight body for the FCDA, FCT, and related matters, to examine the situation more closely and act with greater diligence,” she said.
Her comments come amid growing concern over flooding in Abuja, where rapid urban development has increased pressure on drainage and other infrastructure.