Floods Sweep Through Abuja, Submerging CBN Headquarters, Nicon Luxury, and Other Districts.
The heavy rain that fell on Abuja over the weekend caught many people off guard. But what happened next shocked even long-time residents of the capital city.
Floodwaters rushed through major roads, submerging vehicles and forcing businesses to shut their doors. Among the places affected were the new Central Bank of Nigeria headquarters and the Nicon Luxury Hotel — areas not usually associated with flooding.
One witness described the scene in front of the CBN building as something they had never seen before. The flooding there, they said, had never happened in all the years they had known the area.
What Caused the Flooding?
According to witnesses and residents who spoke about the incident, a plot of land adjacent to Nicon Luxury Hotel, currently being prepared for development, appears to be a major factor. They say this piece of land is a natural waterway that has been narrowed to make room for construction.
When the rains came, the water had nowhere to go. The narrowing of the channel caused it to overflow onto the road, and the flooding quickly spread to surrounding areas.
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The weekend flooding has raised fresh questions about development practices in Abuja. Several residents and observers have pointed to the continued encroachment on green areas and waterways as a key reason why the city is becoming more vulnerable to floods.
One witness suggested that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, should review approvals granted for developments on green areas. If necessary, they argued, some structures blocking natural waterways should be demolished before the situation gets worse.
The flooding was not limited to the city center. Districts such as Wuse, Maitama, Utako, Katampe, and Gwarinpa also experienced significant flooding.
In Maitama Extension, several mansions, including properties belonging to the Kano State Deputy Governor and a former Inspector-General of Police, were submerged. Residents in the area blamed blocked drainage channels and construction along waterways for the disaster.
In Utako, one resident described a near-death experience after his car was submerged on Dan Suleiman Street. He said he had lived in the FCT since 1994 and had never witnessed such a thing.
The FCT Administration has responded to the criticisms. Lere Olayinka, spokesperson for Minister Wike, dismissed claims that the flooding was caused by encroachment on green areas. He said the drainage system was simply overwhelmed by the volume of rainfall and pointed out that similar floods had occurred in previous years .
However, Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT in the Senate, has taken a different position. She argued that construction on green areas and flood channels has made the problem worse. According to her, some of the developments approved by the current FCT administration are increasing the city’s flood risk. She said she had written to relevant agencies to raise concerns about the situation.
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This is not the first time Abuja has experienced flooding. Similar incidents were reported in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 . But many residents say this year feels different. The flooding appears more widespread, and areas that were once considered safe are now being affected.
The Federal Capital Territory received substantial funds in recent years, including over N227 billion in federal allocations and N766 million in Ecology Funds meant to address environmental challenges. Yet many residents are asking where the money went, as the city continues to struggle with basic drainage issues.
Environmental experts and advocacy groups have called for urgent action. The Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has urged the FCT Administration to review all structures built on waterways and green areas. The group warned that the problem should no longer be treated as an unavoidable consequence of heavy rainfall .
Some of the immediate steps suggested include:
- Clearing blocked drainage channels across the city
- Demolishing structures that obstruct natural waterways
- Strengthening enforcement of the Abuja Master Plan
- Improving waste management to prevent debris from blocking drains
Abuja was designed as a carefully planned city, with green areas and waterways meant to prevent exactly this kind of disaster. But as the city has grown, that plan has been increasingly ignored.
The weekend flooding is a reminder that nature will not be pushed aside forever. When waterways are blocked and green areas are built upon, the water will find another way — and in this case, it found its way into homes, businesses, and government buildings.
For now, residents are left to clean up the mess and wonder whether the authorities will take action before the next heavy rains arrive.
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