The once-planned city of Abuja is facing a watery nightmare! Senator Ireti Kingibe is sounding the alarm, pointing fingers directly at unchecked construction on vital green spaces and natural flood channels. This isn’t just about some puddles; it’s about a city literally drowning because its waterways are choked and its green lungs are being paved over. Here’s the lowdown on why Abuja is flooding and what’s being done (or not done) about it:
- Construction on green areas and flood channels is the main culprit.
- Waterways are blocked, leaving nowhere for rain to go.
- Abuja’s master plan is being ignored, leading to health and environmental risks.
- Senator Kingibe has formally complained to relevant FCT agencies.
- The issue predates the current minister but has worsened recently.
- Immediate action like clearing rubbish and drains is needed.
Abuja’s Water Woes: A Man-Made Disaster?
Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) senatorial district, has had enough. She’s clearly stating that the relentless development in Abuja, particularly on its green areas and natural flood channels, is directly responsible for the worsening flooding that’s turning parts of the city into lakes. According to Kingibe, by building on these crucial spots, we’re essentially blocking rainwater’s natural escape routes, creating a serious problem.
“Most definitely,” she stated emphatically when asked if current developments were increasing flood risk. “I’ve been singing the song about the green areas, the gullies, the flood channels, flood plains, because I see them being built on.” She’s been complaining to the Development Control department, FCT agencies, and the FCDA, but it seems her warnings are falling on deaf ears. The result? Streets submerged, homes threatened, and a city struggling to cope.
Green Spaces Vanishing, Flood Channels Clogged
Kingibe paints a grim picture of what’s happening on the ground. She highlighted instances like a residential project being built right on a sewage line in Wuse Zone 6, creating a stench and a health hazard. Even in areas like Asokoro, close to the Senate President’s home, a vital flood channel has been built over. Jabi Park, meant to be a public green space, has seen parts of its natural gullies fenced off for unknown developments.
“So at the end of the day, when it rains, especially as there are rocks all around Abuja, when the water starts coming down, there’s nowhere for them to flow into because all their paths are closed,” she explained. Even the flood channels that haven’t been completely built over are now too narrow to handle the volume of water. It’s a stark reminder that you can’t just build on every available space, especially in a city designed with a master plan.
A Letter to Action (Or Inaction?)
Senator Kingibe confirmed she has sent letters to the key agencies responsible: Development Control, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, and the FCDA. She’s demanding to know what short-term and long-term measures they plan to implement to tackle the flooding crisis. She expects accountability, unlike what she perceived from the FCT Minister.
“I expect that they, unlike the minister, will not ignore my letter,” she stated, hinting at past frustrations. She emphasized that her concerns stem from her duty to her constituents, not from any personal feud with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. “The people’s welfare… They voted for me and the House of Reps members, there are only three of us representing them. When they have these issues, the first person they start screaming for is me.”
Past Problems, Present Dangers
While Kingibe acknowledges that Abuja’s flooding issues aren’t entirely new and have been exacerbated over the years by various administrations, she believes the current situation has been significantly worsened in the last three to four years. “He has definitely exacerbated that problem immensely,” she remarked about the current FCT administration.
Immediate Solutions and Future Hopes
What can be done right now? Kingibe suggests immediate actions like clearing the massive piles of rubbish that litter the city and could easily block drains during rainfall. She also pointed out that the city’s sewage and drainage systems are in dire need of serious attention and maintenance.
“Just before I became senator or after, I had come across a document complaining about the fact that our sewage system, drainages, all those things were in dire need of servicing and just to be looked at,” she recalled. She urges for realistic, holistic solutions, putting politics aside. She’s also hoping the National Assembly will step up its oversight of the FCT, taking these flooding concerns seriously instead of dismissing them.
A Call for Unity in Opposition
In a separate note, Senator Kingibe shared her thoughts on political strategy, particularly regarding the ADC’s performance in the Osun State election. She believes opposition parties need to unite and collaborate to achieve success. “For the opposition to succeed, we need to all gang up,” she asserted, suggesting that in Osun, collaborating with the incumbent Accord Party candidate would have been a better move.