Flood: We’ll pull down houses Senators, ‘big men’ Built on Waterways – Wike

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has directed the demolition of buildings obstructing designated waterways in Maitama and other flood-prone areas of Abuja. Daily Trust reported that several mansions in Maitama Extension were submerged during recent floods due to illegal construction and blocked drainage channels along waterways.

Sources indicated that flooding worsened after a major canal was covered to accommodate buildings linked to a senator, which were constructed on a green area and the canal corridor. Upon inspecting the affected areas on Tuesday, Wike ordered the FCT Development Control Department to begin immediate demolition and complete the task through Saturday.

He emphasized that the enforcement would apply to all structures built on designated water channels, irrespective of owners' social or political status. Wike stated that no constructions would be spared, including those of senators and other influential figures. He reiterated that political activities or property owners' status would not hinder the government's commitment to remove structures obstructing waterways.

The minister attributed the recent flooding to human activities such as construction on waterways, blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate waste dumping, and inadequate maintenance of drainage infrastructure. Wike's inspection revealed that some property owners had built on channels designated in the Abuja Master Plan for stormwater.

He urged relevant authorities to commence desilting of identified drainage systems and called on residents and traders to stop disposing waste into waterways. While acknowledging that climate change and heavy rainfall had contributed to the flooding, Wike maintained that human activities had significantly exacerbated its impact, stating that flood could be both a natural disaster and man-made factor.