Senator Ireti Kingibe has taken aim at the FCT Administration led by Nyesom Wike, accusing it of allowing developments on green areas and drainage channels that she says are making Abuja’s flooding crisis worse. Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, raised the concerns during an interview with Arise News on Monday, […]
Senator Ireti Kingibe has taken aim at the FCT Administration led by Nyesom Wike, accusing it of allowing developments on green areas and drainage channels that she says are making Abuja’s flooding crisis worse.
Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, raised the concerns during an interview with Arise News on Monday, insisting that the capital’s worsening flood situation could not be separated from the obstruction of natural waterways.
According to the senator, she had repeatedly warned relevant FCT authorities about construction taking place on green areas, gullies, flood channels, sewage lines and flood plains, which she said were originally intended to help manage water flow across the city.
She said her concerns were not new and that she had contacted Development Control, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and the Federal Capital Development Authority over what she described as breaches of Abuja’s original master plan.
Kingibe cited Wuse Zone 6 as one example, alleging that a residential project was being constructed on a sewage line. She said the development had already resulted in unpleasant conditions in the area and could create a serious public health concern.
The senator also alleged that flood channels and gullies had been obstructed in parts of Asokoro, including an area close to the residence of the Senate President. She said such developments were among the factors limiting the ability of rainwater to flow freely during periods of heavy rainfall.
Her concerns extended to Jabi Park, where she said green areas were increasingly being encroached upon. Kingibe also pointed to a deep gully near the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre which, according to her, had been fenced off for an unclear purpose.
She explained that Abuja’s natural terrain makes the city particularly vulnerable when drainage routes are blocked. According to her, the rocky landscape causes rainwater to move quickly, meaning the closure or narrowing of drainage channels can leave large volumes of water without adequate escape routes.
Kingibe argued that Abuja’s original master plan was designed with spaces and channels to accommodate the movement of water, stressing that uncontrolled development could undermine the system and expose more communities to flooding.
The FCT senator also pushed back against claims that her criticism was simply part of her political disagreement with Wike. She said she had complained about the loss of green areas and the potential for flooding before her disagreements with the minister emerged.
She maintained that her primary concern was the welfare of her constituents, saying residents often turn to her when they face problems in their communities. Kingibe said her criticism should therefore not be interpreted as a personal campaign against the FCT minister.
She disclosed that her correspondence with the relevant agencies had asked them to explain what short-term and long-term measures they intended to take to address the flooding crisis. She said she expected the agencies to respond to the concerns raised.
While acknowledging that Abuja’s flooding problems did not begin under Wike, Kingibe accused successive administrations of allowing the city’s drainage corridors and green areas to gradually disappear, while arguing that the situation had been significantly worsened during the current administration.
The senator called for immediate action to clear rubbish across Abuja and unblock drainage channels before another round of heavy rainfall. She warned that waste dumped around the city could easily be carried into drains and worsen existing blockages.
Beyond emergency measures, Kingibe called for a comprehensive review of Abuja’s sewage, drainage and environmental infrastructure. She urged officials to set political disagreements aside and concentrate on measures capable of addressing the capital’s growing environmental challenges.
She also called on the National Assembly to intensify its oversight of the FCT and the agencies responsible for planning and managing Abuja, arguing that the latest flooding should trigger a closer investigation into the factors contributing to the crisis.
Kingibe said lawmakers should treat the flooding as a serious governance and environmental issue rather than dismissing her repeated warnings as another chapter in her disagreement with Wike.