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By Adamu Kasimu
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) indeed had issued flood warnings of severe flooding and FCT was included among other states. Flood is just a rise in the level of water above the permissible level. It could be flash flooding, river overflowing, coastal flooding, or urban activity induced flooding which can be caused by rainfall, overflow of rivers, storm, melting snow, or due to the nature of the terrain.
Flooding and infrastructure are related. Looking at the human causes, there are sentiments all over about this Abuja flooding but we should know that flooding is a natural occurrence, a natural phenomenon.
Abuja is just 340 meters averagely above sea level whereas a larger part of Lagos is just five meters above sea level, so if water rises by say 30 meters the entire Lagos will be wiped out. For Abuja, for flood to occur, water has to rise above 340 meters, so there is no cause for alarm.
However, we should expect flooding from streams that are within the Federal Capital City (FCC), and we have streams criss-crossing Abuja, these streams are from rocks within the northern fringes of the city, from Asokoro there is rivulet passing through Gudu, in the eastern part there is another river that starts from the rocks of Mpape and passes through Maitama and through Wuse. All these rivulets are supplying that river crossing Sauka before the Airport through to Kuje and Gwagwalada.
These waters that we see as injurious sometimes are also useful at the lower end of the ecosystem. Human factors can naturally cause flooding. Also, improper development, blocked drains, deforestation and failure of infrastructure, all these can cause flooding.
But what actually caused this Abuja flood? One, we have to agree that it was a flash, and not a regular flood. It is flash flood in the sense that the soil is already saturated so it can’t soak much water again so the recent rainfalls created a run-off.
Two, most of Abuja›s drainage systems are blocked, particularly the gullies on the road, their covers or manholes have been stolen, the pots have been silted with sand thus water cannot flow again.
Lack of maintenance of the city’s infrastructure is therefore another cause, another factor is that the city is becoming overpopulated and the capacity of the drainage system is being overstretched.
On the allegations of culpability of authorities in land allocations and conversion, it is the government that knows what is legal or not, regarding cries that green areas being allocated, but the supply of land cannot be increased horizontally, you can only increase land supply by building vertically, so there are constraints.
Then our courts, the judiciary, are also part of the problem. They are creating pressure for demand for land in Maitama and Asokoro in Abuja. Some politicians, when they occupy office, the first place they would look for land to buy and build houses in Abuja is Maitama or Asokoro, everybody wants a piece of that area but where is the land if not to go after green areas?
The courts would say bring property in Maitama or Asokoro, they have never said bring property in Garki or Wuse so there is pressure in Maitama because they need these documents.
Professionals in the built industry will only give professional opinions but the government is responsible. For solutions, the Abuja Master Plan has to be reviewed to create more channels for water, two, the infrastructure, the sewage system has to be redesigned, and all the gullies must be maintained periodically and consistently.
How often do we see the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) clearing water lines in Abuja, so its not all about greens areas, I am not in support of bastardization of green areas, and properties standing on waterways have to be removed, but the city infrastructure is not, but should be properly maintained.
• Adamu Kasimu, an Abuja-based Estate Surveyor and Valuer, writes via email.
