{
  "id": 1684982,
  "title": "Kingibe Links Abuja Flooding to Construction on Green Areas, Drainage Channels",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/kingibe-links-abuja-flooding-to-construction-on-green-areas-drainage",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T09:31:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/08/18/kingibe-links-abuja-flooding-to-construction-on-green-areas-drainage-channels/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Nigerian parliament, has linked the increasing flooding in Abuja to construction activities encroaching upon green areas, floodplains, gullies, and natural drainage channels. According to Kingibe, who is also a civil engineer, the continuous development is making the territory more vulnerable to flooding. She pointed out that numerous natural waterways and drainage corridors across Abuja have either been blocked, narrowed, or built over, limiting the flow paths for rainwater. During an interview on AriseTV Primetime, Kingibe revealed she had written to the Development Control Department, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) demanding immediate and long-term solutions to the issue. Her concerns stemmed from her inspections of several locations where she observed developments taking place on drainage and sewage corridors. She highlighted specific locations, such as Maitama, Wuse Zone six, Asokoro, and Jabi Park, where construction activities were encroaching on designated water flow areas. Kingibe stated that the rapid water flow from rocky areas during heavy rainfall has become particularly dangerous due to the terrain, as there are no alternative paths for the water. She also criticized poor road construction and drainage practices, noting that some roads in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse, and Garki experienced drainage problems after being redone. Kingibe acknowledged that the encroachment on Abuja’s green areas began under previous administrations but accused the current administration of exacerbating the situation by allowing further development on protected areas. She emphasized that the original master plan aimed at preserving green areas, flood channels, and other essential spaces for the city's environmental sustainability, yet these areas continue to be developed, changing Abuja from a planned city to a \"country jungle.\" Kingibe rejected claims that her criticism of the FCT administration is primarily political, insisting that her concerns about flooding and urban development have been ongoing. She admitted her role in raising previous concerns in the Senate regarding the allocation and revocation of green areas but expressed disappointment that the issue was never addressed. Kingibe stressed her primary responsibility to protect the interests of FCT residents, stating she had no reason for political conflict. She called for the removal of refuse from streets and drainage channels to prevent waste from being washed into drains and worsening blockages during rainfall. Additionally, she advocated for a comprehensive assessment of Abuja's drainage and flood management infrastructure, urging the provision of both short-term measures and a long-term plan to address the growing flood risk.",
  "summary": "Funmi Ogundare Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, yesterday, blamed the worsening flooding in Abuja on the construction of buildings and other structures on green areas, floodplains,",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}