Abuja Floods: Residents Must Share Responsibility, Says Reps D/Spokesman

Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to share responsibility with the government in addressing recurring flooding in Abuja.

Agbese, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, said indiscriminate dumping of refuse and obstruction of drainage channels and waterways by residents were among the factors worsening flooding in parts of the territory.

He said it was unfair to blame the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, solely for the recent flooding, noting that the FCT Administration had undertaken several infrastructure projects aimed at improving roads, drainage and other critical facilities across the territory.

“Residents also have a role to play. You cannot dump refuse into waterways and drainage channels and then turn around to blame the minister when the rain comes and the water has nowhere to pass,” he said.

The lawmaker urged residents to stop using drainage channels and waterways as dumping grounds and to report blocked or encroached waterways to the relevant authorities.

He also called on the FCT Administration to sustain investments in drainage and flood-control infrastructure while strengthening enforcement against illegal dumping and encroachment on waterways.

Agbese said Wike had, since assuming office, pursued projects aimed at improving infrastructure in Abuja and its satellite towns, adding that the administration had completed 221 kilometres of roads out of 317 kilometres awarded in satellite towns since the administration of President Bola Tinubu came into office.

He also cited the completion and inauguration of major projects, including the Gwarinpa-Jahi Interchange, Airport-Kuje Road, Kuje-Gwagwalada Road and sections of the Outer Southern Expressway.

The lawmaker said the scale of development in the FCT required cooperation between government and residents to ensure that infrastructure was protected and effectively utilised.

“Abuja belongs to all of us. We must work with the FCT Administration to protect the infrastructure being provided and keep our communities clean. Government has its responsibilities, but citizens also have theirs,” he said.

Agbese, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue state, said the rapid expansion of Abuja had placed additional pressure on drainage systems and natural waterways, making responsible urban management essential.

He described attempts to blame Wike alone for the flooding as unfair, urging residents to acknowledge the administration’s achievements while demanding improvements in areas requiring attention.

“Blaming Wike for the flood in the FCT is like the Israelites blaming Moses for helping them to the Promised Land. At some point, we must appreciate transformative leadership and understand that government cannot solve every problem without the cooperation of the people,” he said.

The lawmaker urged residents to support efforts to make Abuja cleaner and more resilient, stressing that constructive criticism should go hand in hand with responsible citizenship.

He said the priority should be to develop an FCT capable of coping with population growth, extreme weather and increased human activity, rather than turning every challenge into an avenue for political blame.