• Residents panic over impending flood woes
From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Residents of some areas are already in panic mode as the rainy season kicks off in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
After the Federal Government revealed that 1,249 communities in 176 local governments in 33 states, including the FCT, are at high risk of flooding this year, some residents of Abuja and its environs have expressed fear of the yearly flood taking over their homes.
Mrs. Ruth Enagu, a resident of Nyanya, said they have been battling with floods every rainy season, even after clearing the drainage as advised by the Federal Government. She said it would be very difficult to get out of the issues attached to the rainy season if bridges and good roads are not constructed: “Whenever it rains, people find it very difficult to access their homes because one cannot even differentiate between the roads and drainages. Government really needs to come to our rescue because we don’t have that kind of financial strength to fix the roads. If they are not fixed, we will continue to lose millions of naira worth of goods and property to flood yearly.
“Yes, the government asked us to clear our drainages; some of us have done that. But it is not really enough because there are some houses on the waterways and the government really needs to educate Abuja residents on where to build or not. Considering the cost of rent, everybody wants to be a landlord, not checking the environment before building.”
Joy Agbo, a resident of Dutse, an FCT suburb, said: “We need to sensitise residents on the danger of dumping refuse in waterways and major channels. Now that the rains are coming, we appeal to government to be prepared and assist us on time.
“Another thing that pains me most is that even some residents who don’t dump refuse in waterways will pay scavengers to clear the waterways. But the scavengers will still go and dispose them in the waterways, some even on the road.”
Henry Nwafor, who resides at Byzhine Across, Kubwa District, appealed to residents to avoid blocking waterways with refuse. He said environment-friendly rules of cleaning the waterways should be adhered to: “Although we don’t witness flooding in our community, we are educating our people on the need to keep the drainage free of refuse. It is not still easy because most residents refuse to adhere to our advice. Once they just notice it is raining they will rush to dispose their refuse in the drainages.
“We are looking at how to get a monitoring group that will discipline any one caught in such acts with fines. Any time it rains, we find it very difficult to walk on the roads because it will be littered with refuses from blocked drainages, making everywhere dirty.”
Director-general, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, said this year’s flood forecast goes beyond mapping LGs and now identifies specific communities at risk. He added that the 2025 AFO presentation signals a new chapter in Nigeria’s flood management strategy, one that emphasises preparedness, science-driven planning and community empowerment.
He urged state governments, local councils and at-risk communities to act on the forecast’s insights, strengthen disaster preparedness plans and participate in national programmes designed to reduce vulnerability and save lives.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Terlumun Utsev, has urged governors to swiftly address the information in the AFO, emphasising the need for collaboration among policymakers, government departments and agencies to mitigate flood risks.
He highlighted the importance of maintaining environmental cleanliness, proper waste disposal and conducting awareness campaigns to educate the public about flood risks and preparedness measures, aiming to reduce threats to lives and infrastructure.