Nigerian Eye
Abuja Flooding Didn't Start With Wike, But He Has Worsened It – Kingibe
The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,
Senator Ireti Kingibe, has attributed the increasing flooding in Abuja to
construction activities on green spaces, flood channels and flood plains.
She cautioned that obstructed waterways were limiting
drainage options for rainwater.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Senator Kingibe
stated that she had communicated with relevant FCT agencies regarding ongoing
construction, criticising the activities as a deviation from Abuja’s master
plan.
“Absolutely. Some of the developments sanctioned by the
current FCT administration are indeed heightening the flood risk in Abuja. I
have consistently raised concerns about the green areas, gullies, flood
channels and flood plains, as I observe them being developed upon.
“I have been voicing my concerns that Development Control
should not authorise such activities. Yet, they continue, and this is the
outcome.
“For instance, in Wuse Zone 6, a residential project is
being constructed over a sewage line, resulting in a foul odour. This poses a
health hazard,” she said.
She further elaborated: “Many gullies, including those in
Asokoro, not far from the Senate President’s residence, have been built upon.
There is a comprehensive list of such instances.
“Jabi Park is designated as a public park. Currently, the
greenery is being compromised. Even around the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, there is
a deep gully that has been enclosed for an unknown purpose.
“Consequently, when it rains, particularly given the rocky
terrain surrounding Abuja, the water has no proper outlet because all its
pathways are obstructed.
“Even the flood channels that remain open have been
constricted to the point where water cannot flow effectively.
“It is not feasible to build on every available space in a
city, especially one that was designed according to a master plan that is now
being disregarded.”
The FCT senator emphasised that her concerns regarding
Abuja’s infrastructure predated her disagreements with the FCT Minister.
She stated that she had raised concerns about green spaces
and the risk of flooding well before the current circumstances arose.
According to her, her actions were motivated by a desire to
safeguard her constituents rather than by any personal conflict with the
minister.
“From the outset, I have consistently maintained that there
is no justification for any political discord on my part. Last December, I
expressed my concerns about green areas and the risk of flooding. Even a year
earlier, I had made numerous complaints before these issues began to manifest.
Perhaps, as an engineer, I was able to foresee the potential problems.
“When I initially assumed my role as a senator, I contacted
the head of Development Control to discuss these concerns.
“Therefore, this is not a personal matter with the minister.
It is simply that any issue adversely affecting my constituents necessitates my
intervention, and he is the individual responsible for granting direct approval
for many of these matters.
“However, this is not about silencing me. The welfare of the
people…they elected me, along with the members of the House of Representatives;
there are only three of us representing them. When they encounter these
problems, I am the first person they turn to for assistance,” she clarified.
In detailing her correspondence with the FCDA, Senator
Kingibe mentioned that she had requested the agency to specify the short and
long-term strategies it planned to implement to tackle the flooding issues in
Abuja, underscoring the need for the relevant authorities to be held
accountable for the developments.
“I did not provide specifics in this initial letter. I
informed them that this is a pressing issue, and I would like them to outline
their intended actions in both the short and long-term.
“Following their response, I anticipate that they, unlike
the minister, will not disregard my letter. However, this agency is direct, and
if they fail to respond, I will then address the chairman of the FCT Committee
over all the things that are going on in the FCT.”
Acknowledging that the flooding issues in Abuja existed
prior to the current administration, Kingibe noted that successive ministers
had contributed to the reduction of green spaces, while asserting that the
situation had deteriorated significantly over the last three to four years
under the leadership of Nyesom Wike.
“Clearly, there was an issue. It did not originate with him,
but he has certainly intensified that problem considerably,” she remarked.
Regarding immediate actions, Kingibe advocated for the
removal of debris and the clearing of drains to prevent waste from obstructing
waterways during heavy rainfall. She also called on the authorities to address
long-standing inadequacies in Abuja’s sewage and drainage systems, emphasising
the need for urgent, comprehensive solutions that transcend political
considerations.
“One of the immediate actions I would recommend, before the
next rains, is to clear the significant accumulation of waste throughout the
city. Some of the drains should also be unclogged, as the reality is that if
there is a heap of trash anywhere and it rains, it will wash into the drains
and cause further blockages. This is a small yet essential step they can
initiate right away.
“Shortly before or after I assumed my role as senator, I
encountered a document highlighting the urgent need for maintenance and
assessment of our sewage and drainage systems. These were among the issues I
raised with some of the heads of the FCDA agencies I met with as the senator
representing the FCT.
“The Abuja Environmental Protection Board must have its own
challenges that hinder progress. We need to engage in a realistic and
comprehensive discussion, setting aside political agendas, to identify urgent
solutions,” she urged.
Kingibe also urged the National Assembly to enhance its
oversight of the FCT in light of the recent flooding, emphasising the need for
lawmakers to take her concerns seriously instead of dismissing them as a
personal conflict with Minister Wike.
She said, “I hope that the floods in Abuja will prompt the
National Assembly, which serves as the oversight body for the FCDA, FCT, and
related matters, to examine the situation more closely and act with greater
diligence, rather than thinking, ‘Oh, there goes Senator Kingibe again, trying
to harass poor Honourable Minister Wike.'”
7 hours ago
