ABUJA — Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the worsening flooding in Abuja, warning that the situation poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s capital city.
Adeyanju made the call in an open letter to the President titled, “Open Letter to President Bola Tinubu Regarding the Recent Flooding in Abuja and the Threat to Nigeria’s Capital City.”
He said the increasing flooding across the Federal Capital Territory could no longer be dismissed as a consequence of heavy rainfall, noting that areas previously considered relatively safe were now experiencing severe flooding.
“Today, that master plan is under serious threat as recent flooding witnessed across the city can no longer be treated as an isolated consequence of heavy rainfall. Areas that historically did not experience significant flooding are now increasingly vulnerable, with homes submerged and roads rendered impassable,” he said.
Adeyanju said the FCT Emergency Management Department had identified several communities as flood-prone, including Lokogoma, EFAB and iPent Estates, Galadimawa, Dogon-Gada, Lugbe, Maitama, Wuse, Garki, the Central Business District, Asokoro, Guzape, Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Kubwa, Wari, Gwagwalada, Damagaza, Mabushi, Kuje, Kwali, Abaji and Yangoji, among others.
“This is an emergency,” he declared.
According to him, Abuja was designed as a modern capital with green areas, parks, gardens, drainage corridors, canals and waterways incorporated into the city’s master plan for both environmental preservation and flood control.
“Abuja was conceived and planned as a modern capital city, with designated green areas, parks, gardens, recreational spaces, drainage corridors, canals and waterways as an integral part of its Master Plan,” he said.
“These spaces were not created merely for aesthetic purposes but to serve critical environmental functions, including flood control and the preservation of the ecological balance.”
Adeyanju expressed concern that some areas originally preserved as green spaces and drainage corridors had been converted or allocated for residential and other developments.
He therefore called on Tinubu to order a comprehensive review of land allocations and developments within designated green areas, parks, gardens, drainage corridors, canals and waterways across the FCT.
He stressed that the condition of Abuja had implications beyond residents of the territory because the city hosts the Presidency, National Assembly, judiciary, foreign embassies, international organisations and millions of Nigerians.
“Abuja is home to the nation’s most important institutions. It hosts the Presidency, the National Assembly, the judiciary, foreign embassies, international organisations, diplomats and millions of Nigerians who live and work within the city,” he said.
“If we continue to build over the city’s green spaces, drainage corridors, canals and waterways, there may come a day when even the areas around Aso Rock are not spared from flooding. God forbid that such a thing happens.”
He urged the President to treat the flooding as an urgent national issue and take steps to protect Abuja’s infrastructure, environment and residents.
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