Abuja: The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun a city-wide desilting of drainage channels following heavy torrential rainfalls that triggered flash floods across parts of the nation’s capital. Inspecting the ongoing clearance operations along the Airport Expressway on Thursday, Mr Richard Dauda, acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), said the exercise was directed by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the directive followed a flash flood that flooded the Airport Expressway on Tuesday. Dauda mentioned that the effort is to mitigate flood risks during the peak of the rainy season. He noted that while recent downpours align with earlier meteorological warnings and climate change trends, the Abuja Master Plan inherently recognises certain areas, including the Airport Expressway axis as flood plains.
He assured residents that while resilient infrastructure was originally built to handle high water volumes, human activities have severely compromised its efficiency. Dauda explained that over time, drainage facilities have become silted due to residents dumping refuse into drainage channels. When rain occurs, it washes down polythene bags, waste, and even large objects that block the outlets.
Dauda highlighted two major human factors aggravating the flash floods: illegal development and widespread infrastructure vandalism. Exposing a major choke point along the expressway, Dauda pointed to a triple-cell box culvert meant to discharge a powerful stream flowing from the Galadima Roundabout. He explained that a private developer had illegally constricted the waterway further downstream by constructing retaining walls to expand a personal plot. This has led to water detention, backflow, and eventual flooding.
To restore adequate discharge capacity, the structures built by this developer must be removed, Dauda stated. He also decried the theft of metal gully inlet covers by vandals, which allows large debris to flow directly into underground drains instead of being sieved at the surface. To permanently curb the theft, the FCDA is exploring replacement materials made from non-recyclable compounds rather than steel or cast iron.
The FCDA boss confirmed that workers were already desilting trapezoidal drains, U-channels, and culvert outlets along the Airport Expressway, with plans to reconstruct damaged points where necessary. Dauda urged Abuja residents to stop dumping refuse into waterways, warning that government infrastructure can only protect the city if public cooperation is guaranteed.