By Peter Omopo
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has advised residents living near waterways and flood-prone areas in Abuja to relocate, following continued heavy rainfall and rising flood risks across the territory.
The warning came after a flooding incident early Friday morning affected a residential building in Mabushi District during an overnight downpour.
In a statement, FEMD spokesperson Nkechi Isa said floodwater submerged the ground floor of a one-storey building located at 22 Anthony Ikem Street, behind Blue Cabana Hotel in Mabushi.
The agency explained that it received an emergency alert at about 3:00 a.m. and immediately deployed its Search and Rescue Team to the scene.
According to FEMD, two flats on the ground floor were completely flooded up to window level, forcing emergency responders to manually evacuate water after a generator powering a pumping machine malfunctioned.
Although no casualties were recorded, several household items, food supplies, and important documents belonging to residents were destroyed in the incident.
Acting Director-General of FEMD, Abdulrahman Mohammed, appealed to residents in vulnerable locations to relocate as the rainy season intensifies, warning that continued habitation in such areas poses serious risks.
He also called for the clearing of blocked drainage systems and the removal of structures obstructing natural water channels, noting that such obstructions remain a major cause of recurring flooding in parts of the FCT.
The agency further warned that illegal structures along waterways and poor drainage maintenance have continued to worsen flood situations in the territory.
In recent years, several Abuja communities have experienced repeated flash floods during peak rainy seasons, with authorities attributing the situation to rapid urban expansion, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and encroachment on natural water paths.
