Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department has urged residents living near waterways and flood-prone areas in Abuja to relocate immediately as heavy rainfall intensifies across the territory.
The warning was in reaction a flooding incident in the Mabushi District of Abuja in the early hours of Friday after an overnight downpour submerged parts of a residential building located at 22 Anthony Ikem Street, behind Blue Cabana Hotel.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Public Affairs of FEMD, Nkechi Isa, on Friday, in Abuja the agency received a distress call at about 3:00 a.m. and swiftly deployed its Search and Rescue Team to the scene.
The statement disclosed that floodwater completely submerged the two flats located on the ground floor of the one-storey building up to window level, forcing emergency responders to begin evacuation and water removal operations.
FEMD explained that efforts to pump out the water became difficult when the generator powering the pumping machine developed a fault, compelling rescue officials to manually evacuate the floodwater from the affected apartments.
Although no life was lost in the incident, residents reportedly lost household items, food supplies and important personal documents to the flood.
Reacting to the development, the Acting Director-General of FEMD, Abdulrahman Mohammed, appealed to residents occupying buildings close to drainage channels and waterways to relocate to safer areas to avoid casualties during the peak of the rainy season.
He also called on residents and community leaders to ensure drains are cleared regularly and warned against erecting structures along natural water channels.
Parts of the Federal Capital Territory have experienced repeated cases of flash flooding in recent years, especially during periods of intense rainfall, with experts linking the situation to blocked drainage systems, rapid urban development and construction activities around natural waterways.
The recurring floods have continued to increase concerns over the safety of residents in low-lying communities as the rainy season gathers momentum across Abuja.
