The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have identified illegal structures that block waterways as factors responsible for flooding in some parts of the city.
FCDA Executive Secretary Mr. Shehu Ahmad made this statement when he received FEMA management, led by its Director General, Malam Abbas Idriss, in a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Friday.
The Secretary announced that the two dependencies have resolved to reinforce their determination not to allow anyone, no matter how high up, to build with impunity in the territory.
He said that the FCT minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has ordered the immediate removal of such structures.
Ahmad stated that the FCT Minister is concerned about the resurgence of illegal property construction on the waterways, adding that the FCT Administration would not sit idly by or sit back and allow the loss of life and property by residents.
“The FCT administration named areas such as Lokogoma, Dogongada, Trademore and Efab Estates where illegal structures blocking waterways caused flooding after just four hours of rain on Wednesday.”
He said the administration would be ready to meet with the owners of such illegal properties in court if necessary.
He further explained that “what is happening in the city should serve as warning enough to all that the NIMET prediction of heavy rain for 2022 during this rainy session is real.
“Therefore, the FCT minister, Bello, has ordered that all construction in the waterways be removed and that anyone aggrieved should go to court and we will be ready to meet them there.”
The Secretary said most of the illegal construction found to have restricted and blocked waterways were previously removed in 2019 due to flooding that occurred at the time.
He revealed that a meeting of the relevant departments and agencies of the FCT would be convened soon to evaluate and reinforce previous resolutions on the issue of flooding in the city.
It further revealed that the FCTA is also considering awarding the contract for the full development of Ring Road II (RR II), which would involve replacing the current box culverts with some bridges.
According to him, “This is part of a permanent solution to the recurring flooding around the Lokogoma and Galadamawa roundabout.”
Collaborative effortsThe FEMA Director General Idriss had previously stated that the arrival of the rains that NIMET forecast necessitates the need for urgent collaboration between the agency and relevant stakeholders.
“This is with a view to ensuring synergy and a coordinated response before things get out of hand”, he added.
Idriss attributed the flooding situation in the city to urbanization that has given rise to infractions such as construction on floodplains and the diversion of river courses by some real estate developers.
He called on the FCDA as the custodian of the Abuja master plan to join the agency in providing the necessary support to prevent the activities of illegal developers who carry out their activities without resorting to the effect of climate change.
He called on residents, especially motorists, to be patient whenever it rains, saying the rain must subside to avoid road incidents that could cause unnecessary loss of life.
Emmanuel Ukoh