Residents count losses as flood sweeps through parts of Abuja

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: Residents of parts of Abuja have been counting their losses after a heavy downpour triggered flooding in several districts of the Federal Capital Territory over the weekend.

The flooding submerged vehicles, damaged fences and gates and forced some residents from their homes.

As of the time of filing this report, officials of the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had yet to respond to enquiries on the extent of the damage or the number of persons and households affected.

One of the areas reportedly worst hit was Katampe Main, where residents said the district had experienced flooding for the third time, raising concerns over the adequacy of drainage infrastructure amid rapid development in the area.

A resident, who posted on X, described the situation as severe, alleging that fences and gates were damaged while vehicles and other property were affected by the floodwaters.

The resident questioned whether the drainage infrastructure in the area was adequate to cope with the pace of development.

In Utako, another resident, Theo Agada, recounted a near-fatal encounter with the floodwaters around Dan Suleiman Street, where his vehicle was submerged.

Agada, who said he had lived in the FCT since 1994, narrated his experience in a post on X.

“I almost died yesterday in Utako, off Dan Suleiman Street, after my car got submerged, but mercy said no,” he wrote.

Politician and entrepreneur, Tein Jack-Rich, also expressed concern over the flooding in a post on Facebook, lamenting the extent of the disruption in parts of the city.

Jack-Rich attributed the development to what he described as disregard for Abuja’s original master plan, while calling for calm among residents affected by the flooding.

The latest flooding has renewed concerns over drainage infrastructure, urban planning and the capacity of existing facilities to cope with the rapid expansion of Abuja.

Meanwhile, residents have called for urgent intervention to address drainage challenges and prevent a recurrence of the flooding.

As of the time of filing the report, FEMA officials had not responded to enquiries on the incident, including the extent of damage and the number of persons or households affected.