The Federal Capital Territory Administration has defended Minister Nyesom Wike following renewed criticism over flooding in parts of Abuja, saying the problem predates his assumption of office.
The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and social media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, also accused lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju of politicising Saturday’s flooding by blaming Wike for the incident.
Olayinka said the FCT Administration was aware of the recurring flooding and had begun taking measures to address the problem.
The statement followed Saturday’s heavy rainfall, which caused flooding in several parts of Abuja and renewed concerns over drainage infrastructure, waste disposal, urban planning and flood management in the capital.
In a statement issued on Monday, Olayinka said the heavy downpour resulted in flooding in some areas, although the water receded after some time.
He said the administration was mindful of the recurring problem and was working to prevent future occurrences.
Olayinka, however, criticised Adeyanju for repeatedly blaming Wike for the flooding.
“There was heavy downpour in Abuja on Saturday, and consequently, some areas got heavily flooded. The flood remained for a while after the rainfall and disappeared,” he said.
He questioned whether Wike could be held responsible for flooding that occurred in Abuja before he became FCT minister.
“When there was flood in Abuja in 2019, as reported in the media, was it Wike that caused it?” Olayinka asked.
The presidential aide recalled that heavy rainfall had flooded parts of Wuse, Jabi and Lokogoma in 2019.
He also cited flooding incidents in Lokogoma district, Efab Estate, the Gudu axis and adjoining bridges in 2022.
According to Olayinka, the recurrence of flooding reflects the challenges associated with Abuja’s rapid expansion, particularly inadequate drainage infrastructure, waste management and weak enforcement of planning regulations.
“Sad reality is that Abuja has been witnessing floods long before Wike assumed office,” he said.
He added that Saturday’s flooding was another reminder of the seasonal challenges facing a rapidly expanding city whose drainage infrastructure, waste management systems and planning regulations had not kept pace with its growth.
Olayinka also blamed the activities of scavengers for worsening drainage problems in the capital.
He alleged that the theft of drainage covers had left channels exposed to refuse, contributing to blockages and worsening the impact of heavy rainfall.
“It is also a pointer to damages being caused by scavengers who are daily stealing drainage covers, thereby exposing the drainage to refuse,” he said.
The FCT Administration, according to Olayinka, is also reviewing the 1979 Abuja Master Plan to reflect the current realities of the capital city.
“To address this, the FCT Administration is already reviewing the 1979 Abuja Master Plan to accommodate the new realities of the capital city,” he said.
He added that the administration had begun installing drainage covers designed to make them more difficult for scavengers to remove.
“Drainage covers that will be impossible for scavengers to remove are also being used,” Olayinka stated.
The defence comes as flooding continues to generate public debate over Abuja’s infrastructure and the effectiveness of measures to manage the impact of heavy rainfall in the rapidly expanding Federal Capital Territory.
