FCT Landlords, Business Owners Demand Action Over Worsening Abuja Floods

The FCT Stakeholders Forum for Development has called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration to take urgent measures to address recurring flooding in Abuja.

The forum, comprising landlords, business owners and investors in the FCT, made the demand on Wednesday at a press conference in Abuja.

Chairman of the forum, Chief David Kente, said recent floods had submerged homes, cut off roads and disrupted livelihoods across parts of the capital.

Kente said the forum’s independent assessment of affected areas identified rapid urban expansion, blocked drainage systems and indiscriminate waste disposal among the factors contributing to the flooding.

He also noted that the removal of drainage covers by scavengers had worsened the blockage of waterways.

While acknowledging criticism over alleged violations of the Abuja Master Plan, the forum said flooding had occurred under previous administrations and should therefore be treated as a long-standing urban planning and environmental challenge.

Kente, however, said the 1979 Abuja Master Plan was outdated and no longer reflected the population growth and infrastructure demands of the capital.

He called for an urgent review and modernisation of the document to reflect Abuja’s current realities.

The forum urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to prioritise the desilting of drainage channels, enforcement against encroachment and improved environmental planning.

“We appeal to the Honourable Minister to take immediate and decisive action to address flooding in the FCT. This must include desilting of drainages, enforcement against encroachment, and a comprehensive review of the 1979 Master Plan,” Kente said.

The group also expressed confidence in Wike’s administration, citing ongoing road construction, urban renewal and other infrastructure projects across the territory.

Kente said infrastructure development should, however, be accompanied by effective environmental planning to prevent projects from worsening existing drainage and flooding challenges.

The call comes amid increased concerns over flood preparedness across the country, with the National Emergency Management Agency monitoring the 2026 rainy season and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency identifying the FCT among areas at risk of flash floods.

The forum said stronger planning, political will and collaboration between government and residents could help transform Abuja into a flood-resilient capital.