The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senator Ireti Kingibe, has attributed the increasing flooding in Abuja to construction activities on green spaces, flood channels and flood plains.
She cautioned that obstructed waterways were limiting drainage options for rainwater.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Senator Kingibe stated that she had communicated with relevant FCT agencies regarding ongoing construction, criticising the activities as a deviation from Abuja’s master plan.
“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.
“I have been voicing my concerns that Development Control should not authorise such activities. Yet, they continue, and this is the outcome.
“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.
She further elaborated: “Many gullies, including those in Asokoro, not far from the Senate President’s residence, have been built upon. There is a comprehensive list of such instances.
“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.
“Consequently, when it rains, particularly given the rocky terrain surrounding Abuja, the water has no proper outlet because all its pathways are obstructed.
“Even the flood channels that remain open have been constricted to the point where water cannot flow effectively.
“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.”
The FCT senator emphasised that her concerns regarding Abuja’s infrastructure predated her disagreements with the FCT Minister.
She stated that she had raised concerns about green spaces and the risk of flooding well before the current circumstances arose.
According to her, her actions were motivated by a desire to safeguard her constituents rather than by any personal conflict with the minister.
“From the outset, I have consistently maintained that there is no justification for any political discord on my part. Last December, I expressed my concerns about green areas and the risk of flooding. Even a year earlier, I had made numerous complaints before these issues began to manifest. Perhaps, as an engineer, I was able to foresee the potential problems.
“When I initially assumed my role as a senator, I contacted the head of Development Control to discuss these concerns.
“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.
“However, this is not about silencing me. The welfare of the people…they elected me, along with the members of the House of Representatives; there are only three of us representing them. When they encounter these problems, I am the first person they turn to for assistance,” she clarified.
In detailing her correspondence with the FCDA, Senator Kingibe mentioned that she had requested the agency to specify the short and long-term strategies it planned to implement to tackle the flooding issues in Abuja, underscoring the need for the relevant authorities to be held accountable for the developments.
“I did not provide specifics in this initial letter. I informed them that this is a pressing issue, and I would like them to outline their intended actions in both the short and long-term.
“Following their response, I anticipate that they, unlike the minister, will not disregard my letter. However, this agency is direct, and if they fail to respond, I will then address the chairman of the FCT Committee over all the things that are going on in the FCT.”
Acknowledging that the flooding issues in Abuja existed prior to the current administration, Kingibe noted that successive ministers had contributed to the reduction of green spaces, while asserting that the situation had deteriorated significantly over the last three to four years under the leadership of Nyesom Wike.
“Clearly, there was an issue. It did not originate with him, but he has certainly intensified that problem considerably,” she remarked.
Regarding immediate actions, Kingibe advocated for the removal of debris and the clearing of drains to prevent waste from obstructing waterways during heavy rainfall. She also called on the authorities to address long-standing inadequacies in Abuja’s sewage and drainage systems, emphasising the need for urgent, comprehensive solutions that transcend political considerations.
“One of the immediate actions I would recommend, before the next rains, is to clear the significant accumulation of waste throughout the city. Some of the drains should also be unclogged, as the reality is that if there is a heap of trash anywhere and it rains, it will wash into the drains and cause further blockages. This is a small yet essential step they can initiate right away.
“Shortly before or after I assumed my role as senator, I encountered a document highlighting the urgent need for maintenance and assessment of our sewage and drainage systems. These were among the issues I raised with some of the heads of the FCDA agencies I met with as the senator representing the FCT.
“The Abuja Environmental Protection Board must have its own challenges that hinder progress. We need to engage in a realistic and comprehensive discussion, setting aside political agendas, to identify urgent solutions,” she urged.
Kingibe also urged the National Assembly to enhance its oversight of the FCT in light of the recent flooding, emphasising the need for lawmakers to take her concerns seriously instead of dismissing them as a personal conflict with Minister Wike.
She said, “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, rather than thinking, ‘Oh, there goes Senator Kingibe again, trying to harass poor Honourable Minister Wike.’”
