(Senator Ireti Kingibe. Photo by Daily Post)
The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory has attributed Abuja’s intensifying flood problem to developmental projects on environmental zones, drainage corridors and flood-risk areas.
She cautioned that obstructed waterway systems were severely constraining rainwater drainage capacity.
During a television interview on Monday, the senator expressed concern that several construction undertakings endorsed by the FCT administration deviate from the city’s approved master plan and amplify flood vulnerability.
She cited instances including residential construction in Wuse Zone 6 positioned over sewage infrastructure, producing sanitation hazards, and the development of gullies in areas including Asokoro and near the Senate President’s residence.
She noted that designated green spaces such as Jabi Park were being compromised and that an established drainage channel near the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre had been enclosed, removing natural water outlets.
Given Abuja’s topography, she explained, obstructed pathways prevent water from dispersing during heavy rainfall, while even functioning drainage channels have been narrowed to the point where adequate water flow is impossible.
The senator stressed that her concerns preceded any disagreements with current FCT leadership and reflected her duty to safeguard constituents rather than engage in personal disputes.
She indicated she had communicated infrastructure risks to Development Control officials before current circumstances emerged and had raised questions about environmental degradation a year prior to recent flooding events.
She characterised her engineering background as enabling her to anticipate these hazards and underscored that her three representatives serve as constituents’ primary recourse during crises.
She disclosed written correspondence requesting the FCT Development Authority to articulate both short and long-term flood mitigation strategies, emphasising the need for institutional accountability.
She acknowledged that flooding predates the present administration but noted that successive ministers have reduced green coverage, with the deterioration accelerating significantly over the preceding three to four years.
For immediate intervention, she advocated clearing accumulated debris and unclogging drainage systems before seasonal rains resume, and called for comprehensive overhaul of Abuja’s sewage and drainage infrastructure, transcending political considerations.
She urged the National Assembly to intensify oversight of FCT governance in response to recent flooding, emphasising that lawmakers should take her concerns seriously rather than dismiss them as administrative conflict.
