Abuja flooding: IRIAD wants urgent action on prevention, accountable urban governance

The Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) has called for urgent and coordinated action to prevent recurring flooding in Abuja.

The Director, The Electoral Hub, Princess Hamman-Obels made the call in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

She urged government authorities, communities, businesses, civil society organisations and residents to prioritise prevention, preparedness, environmental responsibility and accountable urban governance.

The call followed the flash flooding recorded across several parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recently, after heavy rainfall left residents and motorists stranded, disrupted transportation and damaged vehicles and property.

Areas affected included Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent in Wuse II, Gudu, Efab Estate in Lokogoma, Gaduwa, Durumi and Galadimawa, as well as Katampe, Mabushi, Lugbe, Gwarinpa, Asokoro, Utako, Wuye, Maitama and Ebeano-Gaduwa, among other locations.

The director, through its environment, sustainability and natural resource governance programme, expressed sympathy with residents, families, businesses and communities affected by the flooding.

She noted that the disruption to livelihoods, movement and access to essential services.

She stressed that the flooding did not occur without warning, adding that on July 30, 2026, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) identified the FCT among areas at high risk of flooding following rising water levels on the Gurara River.

Princess cautioned against the circulation of unverified figures concerning the number of people or households affected, noting that a verified official figure for the August 15 flooding had not been publicly established.

She said the damage to vehicles and property, disruption of transportation, temporary closure of businesses and heightened risks to lives and livelihoods demonstrate the seriousness of the situation.

According to IRIAD, the repeated flooding of particular locations should be treated as a critical planning and preparedness signal rather than simply an emergency-response issue.

“Flood management cannot begin when the water has already risen. Prevention must come first.

“We call for regular drainage clearing and desilting, improved drainage capacity, protection of waterways and drainage corridors, enforcement of planning regulations, flood-risk mapping, early-warning systems and stronger community preparedness,” she said.

She also raised concerns about factors that can worsen flooding, including indiscriminate waste disposal, blocked drainage channels and manholes, accumulated silt and debris, obstruction of waterways, development around drainage corridors, inadequate infrastructure maintenance and non-compliance with urban planning regulations.

The director urged the FCT Administration and relevant government authorities to intensify drainage maintenance, flood-risk mapping, emergency preparedness and preventive interventions in vulnerable communities.

She also called for locations with a history of flooding to receive routine inspections and targeted interventions before and during the rainy season.

Princess further urged the FCT Administration to publish clear information on flood-prone areas, emergency shelters, evacuation routes, drainage interventions and response mechanisms to enable residents to make informed decisions.

She called on the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to provide sustained leadership on flood resilience by ensuring that drainage systems are functional, waterways remained unobstructed, planning regulations were enforced.

She also urged residents not to dump refuse in drains or waterways, and advised people not to attempt to drive or walk through fast-flowing or flooded roads.