By Oluwakemi Kindness
Residents and motorists in several parts of Abuja are counting their losses after heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding across the Federal Capital Territory over the weekend.
Vehicles were submerged, fences and gates damaged, businesses disrupted and some residents forced to leave their homes as floodwaters overwhelmed roads and drainage channels.
Affected areas include Wuse 2, Gudu, Katampe Main, Mabushi, Lugbe, Gwarimpa, Nyanya, Asokoro, Maitama, Utako and Wuye.
The bridge linking Gaduwa and Durumi was also flooded, leaving motorists stranded and disrupting movement.
In Gudu, floodwaters covered parts of the Ebeano-Gudu road and the bridge connecting the two areas, prompting residents to appeal to the FCT authorities for urgent intervention.
Residents Raise Drainage Concerns
The flooding has renewed concerns over Abuja’s drainage infrastructure, waste management and urban planning.
Residents of Katampe Main said the area had experienced flooding for the third time this year, raising questions about whether existing drainage facilities can cope with rapid development.
Some residents also blamed blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate waste disposal and the conversion of green areas and waterways for worsening the situation.
NiMet Had Warned of Flood Risk
The flooding comes after the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) warned of increased flood risks during the 2026 rainy season.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) also warned that flooding could worsen between August and September.
The FCT was among areas identified as vulnerable to flooding, with Abuja specifically highlighted as being at risk of flash floods.
The warnings had prompted FCT authorities to intensify flood preparedness and public sensitisation in vulnerable communities.
FEMA Warns Residents
The FCT Emergency Management Department has urged residents to avoid driving, walking or riding motorcycles through floodwater.
The agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Nkechi Isa, said authorities had assessed flood-prone communities and advised residents to clear drainage channels, avoid building along waterways and relocate from floodplains to safer areas.
Isa said flooding had been reported in Mabushi, Lugbe, parts of Gwarinpa, Wuye, Nyanya and parts of Gwagwalada.
She also disclosed that floodwater had entered a residential building on Anthony Kemp Street in Mabushi, forcing some ground-floor occupants to relocate.
She warned that residents should not attempt to cross flooded roads because the depth may be unknown and flash floods could sweep away people and vehicles.
The latest incidents have intensified calls for improved drainage, better waste management and stricter enforcement of urban planning regulations across the FCT.
As of the time of filing, officials had not provided a comprehensive assessment of the damage or the number of people and households affected.
