Jane Salihu
The Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) has urged the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and residents to shift from reactive responses to flooding to sustained prevention, warning that recurring floods in Abuja should be treated as a failure of preparedness and urban planning rather than an unavoidable consequence of heavy rainfall.
IRIAD, through its Environment, Sustainability and Natural Resource Governance Programme, made the call in a statement signed by Princess Abijah Hamman-Obels, Director of The Electoral Hub, following the flash floods that swept through several parts of the FCT on August 15, 2026.
The organisation expressed sympathy with residents, families, motorists, businesses and communities affected by the flooding, which caused property damage, disrupted transportation, affected livelihoods and left motorists and residents stranded in several locations.
According to IRIAD, areas including Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent in Wuse II, Gudu, Efab Estate in Lokogoma, Gaduwa, Durumi and Galadimawa were affected, while flooding was also reported in Katampe, Mabushi, Lugbe, Gwarinpa, Asokoro, Utako, Wuye, Maitama and other parts of the FCT.
The organisation noted that the flooding occurred despite earlier warnings, stressing that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) had, on July 30, identified the FCT among areas at high risk of flooding following rising water levels on the Gurara River.
It added that the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) had also warned that flood-prone communities remained vulnerable during the peak of the rainy season.
IRIAD said the absence of a verified official figure on the number of people or households affected by the August 15 incident made it necessary for the public to avoid circulating unverified casualty or displacement figures.
The organisation, however, maintained that the impact was evident in damaged vehicles and property, disrupted businesses and transportation, restricted movement between communities and increased risks to lives and livelihoods.
It argued that the repeated flooding of certain locations should serve as a planning signal for government authorities, insisting that communities with a history of flooding require regular risk assessments and preventive interventions before heavy rainfall occurs.
“Flood management cannot begin when the water has already risen. Prevention must come first,” the organisation said.
IRIAD attributed the severity of flooding not only to rainfall but also to human and governance factors, including inadequate drainage capacity, indiscriminate waste disposal, obstruction of waterways, development around drainage corridors, poor land-use planning and inadequate infrastructure maintenance.
It also raised concerns over reports of blocked manholes and underground drainage channels containing accumulated silt, solid waste and debris, saying such conditions restrict stormwater flow and increase flood risks.
The organisation called on the FCT Administration to intensify drainage maintenance, flood-risk mapping, emergency preparedness and preventive interventions in vulnerable communities.
It further urged authorities to publish clear information on identified flood-prone areas, emergency shelters, evacuation routes, drainage interventions and emergency response mechanisms to enable residents to make informed decisions.
IRIAD also called on the Minister of the FCT to provide sustained leadership on flood resilience by ensuring that drainage systems remain functional, waterways are protected from obstruction and planning regulations are enforced.
The Federal Ministry of Environment, it said, should strengthen coordination with the FCT Administration, FEMA, FEMD, NEMA, NiHSA and other relevant agencies, stressing that flood management should be approached as an environmental governance and climate resilience issue.
The organisation also placed responsibility on community leaders, estate managers, residents’ associations, businesses and individual residents to support flood prevention by keeping drainage channels clear, preventing waste disposal in waterways and reporting drainage failures and other risks.
It urged residents to avoid walking or driving through fast-flowing floodwater, move to higher ground when evacuation warnings are issued and rely on verified information from relevant emergency management authorities.
While acknowledging NEMA’s activation of a National Emergency Operations Centre for the 2026 flood response, IRIAD said Abuja must move beyond emergency response towards long-term prevention, preparedness and risk reduction.
It called for regular drainage maintenance, protection of waterways, enforcement of urban planning regulations, responsible waste management, effective early-warning systems, flood-risk mapping and investment in climate-resilient infrastructure.
IRIAD further appealed for adequate relief and recovery support for affected communities, particularly children, older persons, persons with disabilities, low-income households and other vulnerable groups who may require shelter, clean water, food, medicines and sanitation supplies.
The organisation said it would continue public sensitisation and advocacy on flood prevention, environmental responsibility and accountable urban governance, while promoting stronger collaboration between government institutions, communities, civil society and emergency-response agencies.
It said the goal should be to build an FCT where rainfall is managed through effective planning and infrastructure rather than feared as a recurring disaster.
“Flood prevention is a collective responsibility. Abuja must be a city where rainfall is managed, not feared. We must act together before the next flood,” IRIAD said.
