Senator Ireti Kingibe has called for urgent and comprehensive action to address flooding and the deteriorating environmental infrastructure in Abuja, warning that the Federal Capital Territory risks facing increasingly severe flooding if authorities fail to act.
Speaking on the recent flooding in the nation’s capital, Kingibe said she had written to the relevant FCT development authority demanding clarity on the immediate measures being planned to tackle the crisis.
She said her initial request was deliberately broad, asking the authority to explain what it intends to do in the short term before further steps are taken.
According to her, responsibility for Abuja’s flooding cannot be placed on a single individual or institution, arguing that those who approve developments, regulate construction, maintain drainage infrastructure and provide political oversight all have roles to play.
Kingibe particularly raised concerns over the gradual disappearance of Abuja’s designated green areas, saying the city’s original master plan has increasingly been compromised by development.
She cited areas around Jabi and the Abuja lake as examples of locations where previously protected spaces are being built up.
The senator said Abuja was deliberately designed as a planned city, with green areas and environmental infrastructure intended to help manage the city's climate and drainage needs.
She therefore called for stricter enforcement of the Abuja master plan and a review of developments that contravene existing planning regulations.
Kingibe said the FCT Administration could take some immediate steps to reduce the impact of further heavy rainfall, including clearing accumulated refuse and ensuring that drainage channels are properly maintained.
She noted that piles of refuse can easily be washed into drainage systems during heavy rainfall, worsening flooding and obstructing the movement of stormwater.
Beyond emergency measures, she advocated a broader review of Abuja's drainage, sewage and waste-management systems.
According to her, the problems require a holistic approach that puts politics aside and brings relevant FCT agencies together to develop sustainable solutions.
Kingibe also recalled that she had previously raised concerns about the protection of Abuja's green areas and had supported the establishment of an ad hoc committee to examine how land allocations and revocations were being handled.
She expressed disappointment that the committee, to her knowledge, did not effectively undertake its assignment.
The senator also urged the National Assembly, particularly its oversight structures for the FCT, to take a more active role in monitoring the development and management of Abuja.
She argued that the recent flooding should serve as a wake-up call for lawmakers to scrutinise the city's planning, drainage, environmental protection and land-allocation processes more closely.
Kingibe stressed that Abuja's flooding is not simply a problem created by the current administration, but the cumulative result of decisions taken over several years.
However, she maintained that the current leadership has a responsibility to address the existing problems and prevent further deterioration.
She called for the relevant authorities to develop a long-term water-management and drainage strategy capable of dealing with the increasing frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall.
Kingibe's comments come amid growing public concern over flooding across several parts of Abuja, with residents demanding improved drainage, waste management and enforcement of development regulations
Comments
Post a Comment